University of Antwerp Adopts Blackboard Learn 9.1 and Mobile Support
to Enhance Teaching and Learning
Moves Emphasize Sharing Resources and Cost Savings Across Flanders
AMSTERDAM, Sep 22, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
The University of Antwerp has moved to Blackboard Learn(TM)
9.1 to significantly improve the quality of teaching and learning across
its consortium of six colleges in the region and to further develop
educational projects that leverage Web 2.0 technologies, Blackboard Inc.
(Nasdaq: BBBB) announced today.
With the increasing adoption of smartphones among students, the
university, the third largest in Flanders, is also planning to support
mobile learning with Blackboard MobileLearn(TM) through
native applications for some of the world's most popular mobile devices
and platforms.
The University of Antwerp is hosting the Release 9.1 platform centrally
to support over 40,000 users across the consortium, providing
significant cost savings to the consortium colleges while creating a
more modern and engaging learning environment focused on the evolving
needs of students. By incorporating a wide range of built-in social
learning tools like blogs and wikis and the ability to integrate
multimedia content from Web 2.0 sources, Release 9.1 helps create a
richer and more integrated learning experience to drive stronger student
satisfaction.
With improved central grading, tracking and plagiarism detection enabled
through the platform's Gradebook and SafeAssign(TM) solutions
and the ability to quickly perform multiple file uploads, Antwerp's
instructors can spend less time on logistics within the virtual learning
environment and more time focused on ensuring students are fully engaged
in day to day learning.
"Blackboard seamlessly incorporates all the things that are important to
learning institutions, which ultimately leads to a better user
experience and increased satisfaction amongst students - which is why we
have such a high adoption," said Filip Seuntjens, IT Project Manager at
the University of Antwerp. "We value that Blackboard ensures
technological innovation and keeps pace with advancements in the
education industry. We want to ensure that Blackboard Learn becomes the
single portal and source of information for everyone at our institution."
The University of Antwerp was founded in 2003 after the merger of three
universities previously known as RUCA
(State University Centre Antwerp), UFSIA
(University Faculties Saint Ignatius Antwerp) and UIA
(University Institution Antwerp). In addition to upgrading to Blackboard
Learn 9.1, Antwerp has also adopted the Community Engagement and Content
Management modules.
More than 1,500 institutions have moved or are planning a move to
Blackboard's latest version to take advantage of its improved stability
and digital content advancements, social learning tools to drive student
engagement and greater workflow efficiencies for instructors and
administrators.
For more information about Blackboard Learn, please visit http://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Learn/Overview.aspx
# # #
About Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB) is a
global leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that
improve the experience of millions of students and learners around the
world every day. Blackboard's solutions allow thousands of higher
education, K-12, professional, corporate, and government organizations
to extend teaching and learning online, facilitate campus commerce and
security, and communicate more effectively with their communities.
Founded in 1997, Blackboard is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with
offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans
and prospects for Blackboard and other statements containing the words
"believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," and similar
expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may
differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking
statements as a result of various important factors, including the
factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our Form 10-K filed
on February 18, 2011 and Form 10-Q filed on August 4, 2011 with the SEC.
In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press
release represent the Company's views as of September 22, 2011. The
Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause
the Company's views to change. However, while the Company may elect to
update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the
Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These
forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the
Company's views as of any date subsequent to September 22, 2011.
SOURCE: Blackboard
Geraldine Fernandez/ Robert Hickling
020 8971 6417/ 6427
gfernandez@saycomms.co.uk
rhickling@saycomms.co.uk
or
Blackboard Inc.
Matthew Maurer,
+ 001 202-463-4860 ext. 2637
matthew.maurer@blackboard.com