Enterprise technology and innovative solutions provider Blackboard Inc, US, has announced that it has been selected by the Saudi Electronic University (SeU), the first government e-university in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as a strategic partner to support their eLearning requirements. The announcement was made by Blackboard and its local partner, BME Holding S.A.L. (BME).
Following a formal and extensive evaluation process, which included functional assessment and review of vendors, SeU concluded that Blackboard Learn, Blackboard's flagship learning management system (LMS), is the most flexible and effective learning platform to meet their needs.
SeU found Blackboard solutions to offer advanced functionality and significantly enhanced collaborative learning opportunities compared to competing vendors. Executives at SeU determined that Blackboard solutions would be easier to implement and manage than the alternatives based on the company’s strong and proven product support and well-organised, global user community.
The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) in Saudi Arabia recognises that distance learning is critical to the future success of Saudi education expansion and quality. With the creation of SeU, the MOHE will work with the existing Saudi universities to centralise distance learning study programmes into a single organisation. SeU has a target to enroll 6,000 students for its initial launch phase.
SeU will leverage the Blackboard Mobile Learn solution to give students and faculty access to their course experience on mobile devices. Blackboard Collaborate, the online Web conferencing and collaboration platform will give students and faculty more opportunities to interact virtually, and the Blackboard Connect platform will increase the effectiveness for alert notifications and community outreach.
Consultants from Blackboard joined leaders from SeU for a five-day, on-site workshop to review the short-term implementation plan of Blackboard solutions, align efforts with the university's Strategic Plan and coordinate timing to make the solutions available to students in early September.
