In a move that signals a new approach to the provision of ultra high-speed internet services to the school community, The University of Queensland (UQ) has developed a new service called UQSchoolsNet.
This new network allows schools to connect to each other and to the internet at a speed of one gigabit a second. This is one of the fastest school network links in the world and is a practical example of the digital revolution for education.
The UQSchoolsNet initiative complements the Federal Labor Government’s “digital education revolution” where every high school student between year 9 and 12 will be provided with computer access.
Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School (IGGS) in Ipswich, Queensland, has been successfully piloting this new system and will be the first school to connect to UQSchoolsNet, which is powered by UQconnect, The University of Queensland’s not-for-profit education ISP.
Speaking in Brisbane, Nick Tate, Director of Information Technology and AusCERT at UQ, outlined a series of additional services for schools that are planned for UQSchoolsNet. These include Virtual PCs, Voice over IP phone services, Managed Network Services, federated wireless access and shared business applications.
“This initiative moves the digital education agenda to the next level”, he said.
“It connects schools to the rich content at UQ and elsewhere at university-level speeds.
“We are particularly pleased to be able to pilot this with Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School, which is one of Australia’s leading schools, and to be able to provide support from UQ’s Ipswich campus.
“This is a first for Queensland schools and for Ipswich, which is one of Australia’s most innovative cities,” Mr Tate said.
UQSchoolsNet will connect Ipswich Girls Grammar School to The Univeristy of Queensland’s Ipswich Campus, allowing teachers and students to access quality electronic resources for enhanced teaching and learning.
Mrs Florence Kearney, Principal of Ipswich Girls Grammar School commented, “Our School enjoys a very close relationship with The University of Queensland and we are delighted to be leading the way with their Ipswich Campus in pioneering this new technology. We appreciate and are very excited about our partnership with UQ in this cutting edge project.”
A formal launch of UQSchoolsNet is planned to occur within two months at Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School, which will then have the fastest internet connection of any school in the Southern Hemisphere.
Media: Claire Groves, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Information Technology Services, UQ, phone 0421 050 725.
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