Anytime, anywhere classes
and meetings
In a truly global economy, post-secondary students enjoy more freedom to choose courses and
academic institutions than ever before. Thanks to technology, they're no longer limited by geography
or their own financial resources. They can participate in classes taking place hundreds or even
thousands of miles away, without going to the expense of moving to a distant campus.
Businesses can use the same technology to facilitate collaboration between branch offices, to hold
meetings with customers or clients, to provide training and support across vast distances, to announce
new products and more. All without incurring the significant expenses associated with travel.
Recognizing these facts, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and TELUS have
partnered to develop a multi-media conference centre that provides both distance learning for students
and state-of-the-art collaboration tools for business.
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) offers an array of career-related programs
leading to certificates, diplomas and applied degrees, including apprenticeship training in 34 trades.
In addition, more than 1,200 continuing education courses are available.
Today, NAIT has approximately 18,300 full-time and apprenticeship students, and more than
43,000 continuing education registrations. And the Institute gets excellent grades. It's highly
rated by students, graduates and employers, as evidenced by the fact that 90% of NAIT students
are fully employed within nine months of graduating.
There are four NAIT campuses in Edmonton, and five in Alberta's Peace Country region, in Grande
Prairie, Fairview, Peace River, La Crete and High Level.
Bringing technology on line
As a technical institute, NAIT has had video conferencing facilities for some time. However, in 2003,
it was estimated that these facilities were only being used at about 30% of their capacity. What's more,
a room that had been designed specifically for conferencing wasn't being used for that purpose.
NAIT's executive steering committee asked TELUS to provide a proposal for a multifunctional video
and teleconferencing solution for the TELUS Communications Centre. To ensure that the new solution
enjoys maximum usage, NAIT identified three general applications:
Academic: NAIT needed to extend its reach, not only to its own dispersed campuses, but also nationally
and globally, without increasing overall costs. Properly equipped, it was anticipated that the conference
facility would greatly reduce travel costs for students and academic staff. In addition to video
conferencing, video streaming would enrich the content of materials delivered to students.
Corporate: In partnership with TELUS, NAIT sought to offer conference facilities to businesses
within the Edmonton area. With a few modifications, the TELUS Communications Centre would be able to
provide services in keeping with NAIT's leading edge profile in the corporate community. At the same
time, this approach would generate revenue for NAIT.
Administrative: Conferencing would be an ideal tool to facilitate the integration
of NAIT's remote campuses. By making communications more personal and convenient, an overall feeling
of community would be created.
Quality end-user experience
Any solution had to support a top quality learning environment, while also appreciating NAIT's need
to be conservative in its approach to fiscal management. As a result, the TELUS proposal included re-using
existing equipment wherever possible. For example, while TELUS felt that two 100 inch rear-projection
screens were needed because of the size of the viewing area, the existing plasma monitors were not simply
replaced. They were moved to other areas of the room, where their excellent clarity makes them ideal for
displaying digital material.
Three cameras were mounted to provide complete coverage of both the room and the instructor
or speaker - and ceiling-mounted speakers and microphones were added. And because good lighting
is vital to quality video conferencing, TELUS recommended a review of the existing lighting by a
qualified lighting specialist.
Overall, the solution recommended by TELUS was based on the end user outcomes NAIT wanted to
achieve, together with consideration of best of breed videoconferencing technology. The chosen
equipment is known for its high performance features, premium quality audio and full functionality.
The implementation was designed to take place in two phases, with the first phase equipping
the Centre to provide functionality for the academic and administrative requirements, while also
generating revenue through corporate use. In the second phase, connectivity was provided to NAIT
campuses in northern Alberta.
The solution included full teleconferencing, video conferencing and Web conferencing capabilities.
As an Alliance partner with NAIT, TELUS also undertook to assist NAIT in developing its corporate
client base by:
- Redirecting existing TELUS conferencing customers to the NAIT facility
- Providing access to the TELUS toll-free Video Technical Assistance Centre
- Introducing NAIT to TELUS Affinity Partners offering international video brokerage services
- Further developing the business case to recoup up-front expenditures
Dissolving distances
"Our vision is to be an outstanding technical institute, committed to student success in a global economy,"
says Dr. Sam Shaw, NAIT's President. "To get the job done, communications technology is very important."
Dr. Shaw has found that the TELUS solution delivers that technology. "I give my courses in Bangkok,
Cuba, Vancouver. Our students in the North-West tap into courses. Queens offers their MBA program. We have
businesses holding meetings. It's all only possible with our partnership with TELUS."
Other members of faculty are equally enthusiastic. "We have some instructors who are teaching
business marketing and business law and they are very excited," says Eleanor Frandsen, Dean of Technology
and Curriculum Innovation. "They just love the technology."
Business, too, have embraced the new facilities, which offer full service catering as well as
everything necessary to conduct meetings. Business clients use audio conferencing for economical
team meetings, project updates and company announcements. When visual input is necessary, video
conferencing allows for full motion, full colour and real time images and sounds. And when remote
meeting participants are out of reach of other video conferencing facilities or the business needs
to broadcast its message to a vast audience, Web conferencing and Web casting make it easy.
All in all, it's a partnership that benefits everyone. "I think TELUS has a great approach to
working with clients and partners," says Frandsen.
