University of London Consortium Adopts Blackboard Academic Suite
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB) announced today that it has installed the Blackboard Academic Suite(TM) for a consortium of leading University of London colleges. The Bloomsbury Blackboard Consortium comprises The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), and The Royal Veterinary College (RVC).
Through the consortium model, the individual schools will have access to more advanced technology, shared expertise and the possibility to share content. Recent enhancements to the Blackboard Academic Suite, included in the latest Application Pack software update, facilitate consortium modeling by allowing individual identities on a shared platform, as well as a shared identity on a single platform.
“The use of the Blackboard Academic Suite in a consortium environment represents the realization of the true power of e-Education,” said Andrew H. Rosen, President of Blackboard’s international business. “The consortium is a ‘next generation’ educational partnership between the colleges and Blackboard that will see the shared development of significant student-centered learning, teaching, and research capabilities.”
“Blackboard was able to provide software solutions that brought together three specialist institutions, providing cost savings and an enhanced level of service for both academics and students, while preserving each college’s unique institutional identity,” said Dr. Mandy Bentham, Head of Learning and Teaching Strategy at The School of Oriental and African Studies. “Key to our decision was Blackboard’s strong UK based support capability. Blackboard’s technology was well suited to our needs, and they demonstrated their wish to be a true strategic partner to help us realize our collective vision for improved cross-institutional learning, teaching, and research development.”
The Blackboard Academic Suite comprises three leading e-Education software solutions: the Blackboard Learning System(TM), the Blackboard Portal System(TM) and the Blackboard Content System(TM). Together, these solutions create a comprehensive online learning platform that supports multiple approaches to teaching, learning, research and collaboration.
About Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard is a leading provider of enterprise software and services to the education industry. The Company’s product line consists of five software applications bundled in two suites, the Blackboard Academic Suite(TM) and the Blackboard Commerce Suite(TM). Blackboard’s clients include colleges, universities, schools and other education providers, as well as textbook publishers and student-focused merchants that serve education providers and their students. Blackboard is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices and staff in North America, Europe and Asia.
Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Blackboard and other statements containing the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “will,” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent 10-Q filed with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of September 13, 2004. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company’s views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to September 13, 2004.
CONTACT:
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Blackboard Inc.
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Blackboard Inc.
Web site: http://www.blackboard.com
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