AUT Wins Acclaim for Innovation in Education

AUT Wins Acclaim for Innovation in Education

Auckland University of Technology wins Overall Excellence Award at Microsoft Tertiary ICT Innovation Awards

Auckland University of Technology has taken the top prize, the Overall Excellence Award, at the Microsoft Tertiary ICT Innovation Awards. Presented at the Tertiary Education ICT Conference, the prize celebrates excellence in technology.

The Auckland University of Technology also received the Microsoft Excellence in Technology for Students Award trophy and $3,000 of Microsoft Innovative Technology Pack in recognition of its cutting-edge work.

Derek McCormack, Vice Chancellor of AUT said: “It is a real honour for our innovative Student Digital Workspace to win the Microsoft Excellence Award, and a great pleasure to be bringing the trophy back to AUT again. What is particularly gratifying this year is the recognition of our collaborative approach with our ICT Services, Student Services and Marketing teams, and the large part our students have played in this achievement.”

“Student Digital Workspace is a platform that supports and enhances the experience for each and every one of our students,” added Liz Gosling, CIO of AUT. “By doing this AUT now has a space that not only makes studying and learning enjoyable, fundamentally Student Digital Workspace is a place that our students want to come to and learn together.”

Katrien Pagnaer, Higher Education Lead at Microsoft New Zealand, said, “The conference theme for this year, Shaken, Not Stirred focuses on sharing key issues and opportunities for ICT in tertiary education, now and into the future. Along with 60’s spy chic, the theme investigates the impact digital innovation is having on higher education sector. We hope these awards will continue to encourage others in the sector to make the most of what technology has to offer.”

Held in Wellington as part of the 36th Annual Tertiary ICT Conference, the Microsoft Innovation Awards celebrate ICT excellence within the tertiary education sector. The two categories for the 2016 awards were:

1. The Microsoft Award for Technology innovation: Otago Polytechnic for Enterprise Service Transformation.
2.
3. The Microsoft Award for Excellence in Technology for Learning, Research or Students: Auckland University of Technology for their Student Digital Workspace.

The Microsoft Innovation Awards is another example of Microsoft’s commitment to the education sector in New Zealand. Other initiatives include the Partners in Learning programme, local tertiary education alliances, and leading software solutions designed to facilitate learning through the use of ICT.

ENDS

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