Today's News |
BC Association of Institutes and Universities Joins BCNET
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Vancouver, BC, November 28, 2012--(T-Net)--BCNET, a not-for-profit, shared IT services consortium for higher education and research in B.C., and BCAIU (BC Association of Institutes and Universities), today announced that BCAIU member institutions will join BCNET. All BCAIU presidents have signed a letter pledging their institution to join the consortium and cited the value they see in collaborating with the research universities on shared information technology services. The BCAIU presidents agreed that aligning with BCNET will help their institutions pursue their long-term strategic objectives of improved education services delivery and cost-effective procurement of information technology services.
Members of BCAIU encompass eight institutes and universities in British Columbia: BCIT, Capilano University, Justice Institute of British Columbia, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, University of the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island University.
“BCIT and Emily Carr University are already members of BCNET, and we believe there is long-term value in all our members becoming part of BCNET,” said Ruth Wittenberg, President of BCAIU. “We are committed to joining BCNET to leverage its portfolio of shared information technology services. Membership will enable BCAIU's institutes and universities to explore ways to improve network capacity, and take advantage of opportunities to cut costs and improve operational efficiencies.”
Members of the Research Universities' Council of BC have been part of BCNET for many years and have benefited from the collaborative community in obtaining leading-edge technology services to accelerate research, learning, teaching and innovation.
“We welcome BCAIU to our current membership and see the lasting value in broadening our community and working together as an integrated whole,” says Michael Hrybyk, President and CEO of BCNET. “Higher education institutions have unique technology challenges that are well served by a collaborative inter-institutional environment. BCNET facilitates a unique forum amongst members to discuss important technology issues, challenges and potential solutions.”
With the addition of the BCAIU members, 17 of 25 public post secondary institutions in the province will now be BCNET members.
BCAIU member institutions will join BCNET and agree to purchase services from a catalogue of network, information technology and procurement services. BCNET's services are designed to reduce information technology costs, minimize technology duplication, improve service delivery, leverage technology expertise and help deliver more value for every dollar spent.
BCNET is a not-for-profit, shared information technology services consortium led by its members, British Columbia's research universities and institutes. Owned, governed and funded primarily by its members, BCNET facilitates a unique, collaborative inter-institutional environment - one based on common goals - to explore and evaluate shared IT solutions for mutual technology challenges.
BCNET's shared services approach is designed to help member institutions to support research, cut costs, minimize technology duplication, improve operational efficiency and better serve their students, faculty, staff and communities.
BCNET's high-speed, high-capacity, fiber optic advanced network provides a common and powerful platform to deliver services cost-effectively and reliably and provide advanced technology to support research.
The British Columbia Association of Institutes and Universities represents the interests of eight educational organizations in B.C. Together our members account for over 40 percent of the students attending public post-secondary institutions in the province. Over 145,000 students currently attend one of our member institutions.
BCAIU member institutions provide a wide-range of development, vocational, academic and continuing education programs, preparatory and vocational through graduate degrees. They enable students to acquire important skills and training, often in their own community or region. Our members are focused on meeting the needs of their students and are leaders in such areas as innovation and technology, public safety, motion picture production, art and design and aboriginal education.
For more information, please contact:
BCNET Contact »
Tamara Klein, Communications Manager
tamara.klein@bc.net
(604) 505-8455
BCAIU Contact»
Leanne Brophy, Manager & Media Relations
Leanne.brophy@ufv.ca
250-940-1142