Southern Cross University and Huawei Australia have partnered for a major overhaul of the university’s communications and campus security systems.
The agreement, signed by Southern Cross University vice-chancellor, Professor Peter Lee, and Huawei CEO, Zhao Xichu, represents an extensive project over a five-year period.
Key features of the project are:
- Upgrade to a next generation high speed data network at the university’s four campuses enabling the telecommunication network to improve performance and productivity for students and teachers.
- Provide world-class Cloud engine technology to deliver the university’s applications and services, bringing Southern Cross University to the leading edge of Cloud computing in the Australian tertiary sector.
- A smart campus solution based on Huawei’s Agile Campus solution including HD telepresence, interactive classrooms, Cloud communications technology and a new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system across all campuses.
Huawei and Southern Cross University said in a statement that with the growing information based economy and increasing maturity of Cloud computing, Internet and smart devices, ICT had penetrated every aspect of campus life.
Interactive classrooms, virtual learning communities and education Cloud platforms enable innovative teaching practices and provided students with a highly efficient and engaging learning environment.
Professor Lee said, “This is a major project which will ensure our information and communications technology infrastructure is of the highest possible quality and capable of meeting the needs of a rapidly changing digital world. Huawei is a world-leader in the provision of this technology and we are pleased to be their first major university partner in Australia.”
Zhao Xichu said, “We are very proud to partner with Southern Cross University and deploy our new smart campus technology. Our solution enables the management of increased data traffic and improves capacity and performance for students and teachers to enjoy a high speed IT network, wherever they are, in the classroom, in laboratory or coffee shop.”
The partnership will also include a suite of scholarships for Southern Cross University students and opportunities for internships. Two Southern Cross University students have recently returned from a three-week internship with Huawei in China.
