Local schools are gearing up for high-speed internet connections as The University of Queensland's new UQSchoolsNet service goes full throttle, enhancing the teaching and learning of students Australian-wide.
UQSchoolsNet was officially launched today (October 28) at Ipswich Girls' Grammar School (IGGS), allowing an online community of schools to connect to the internet at a speed of one gigabit a second, 500 times faster than many schools' current network speed.
IGGS piloted the new network and now has the fastest internet connection of any school in the southern hemisphere.
UQ Information Technology Services (ITS) director Nick Tate said UQ had one of the best internet connections in Australia and was happy to extend the capability of the network with the school community.
Mr Tate said schools were being connected to UQSchoolsNet on one of the fastest technologies available today.
"The demand that some resources and services require from a network connection are significant, therefore UQSchoolsNet opens up new avenues for teaching and learning including videoconferencing and access to higher education research," he said.
"UQSchoolsNet will also enable schools to tap into the University's resources, such as Cyberschool offered through the Library, as well as enrich the classroom experience through applying engaging and lively features to traditional face-to-face learning."
Mr Tate said through UQSchoolsNet students would build established ties with UQ, making the transition from secondary school to university smoother.
The Southport School, Somerville House and Brisbane Boys' College are scheduled for connection in the immediate future.
Ipswich Girls' Grammar School Principal Florence Kearney said her school's partnership with UQSchoolsNet would provide new and exciting educational possibilities for staff and students.
"Our partnership with UQSchoolsNet is not only about extremely high speed internet access but rather what that access can deliver," Mrs Kearney said.
"It's vital that an innovative school like ours is able to maintain its position at the forefront of advancing technology.
"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."
Additional student advantages from UQSchoolsNet include:
- Lowered costs for schools through the possible use of services such as IP Telephony.
- A more prominent technological profile for schools, which will be useful in attracting students to the schools connected to UQSchoolsNet.
- The development and installation of fibre services to schools will assist in extending high capacity networking to the community and developing competition.
Media: Eliza Plant at UQ Communications (07 3365 2619) or Claire Groves at UQ Information Technology Services (07 3365 4169)
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