Microsoft Lauds Innovators At ICT Conference

Microsoft Lauds Innovators At ICT Conference

University of Otago awarded top honours in inaugural competition

HAMILTON, New Zealand – 23 September, 2009 – Microsoft has announced Emerson Pratt, manager of Teaching and Learning Facilities at the University of Otago, as winner of the first Innovation Awards held at the Tertiary ICT Conference in Hamilton. His ‘Otago Interlinking’ project to deliver flexible lecture videoconferencing was the judges’ top selection.

Pratt and his team will receive a trophy and $2,500 cash prize in recognition of their work.

The Interlinking project connects lecture theatres in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington to create a single virtual forum for students to use and interact with class lecturers. The highly scalable and flexible system was deployed for less than one-tenth the cost of a commercial video conferencing system by using customised PCs, software and camera systems.

The Innovation Awards were open to any conference delegates involved in the tertiary sector, whether at the individual, team or institution level. Entries must have demonstrated excellence in ICT, either as processes which improved efficiency or effectiveness of services, or as new products to satisfy stakeholder needs. Judges scored entries on a number of qualitative criteria, including the overall implementation, performance and strategic importance.

Other projects also received recognition as Innovation Award runners-up:

• ‘Shared Services’, submitted by Rabindra Das, IT Manager, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and Kevin Adamson, Director of Information Technology Services Division, Waikato University
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• ‘Otago Maps’, by Emerson Pratt, University of Otago
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• ‘SuiteSpot@Lincoln.ac.nz’, from John Buckler, Information Technology Services Director, Lincoln University
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Microsoft New Zealand’s Tertiary Sector Manager, Evan Blackman, presented the award during the conference keynote presentation and awards dinner. According to Blackman, the tertiary sector is fertile ground for ICT innovation:

“Tertiary institutions are bastions of intellect and innovation. IT managers are constantly challenged to be as progressive and forward-thinking as the faculty and students they serve. These projects are proof, if any is needed, that innovation is thriving in our country’s foremost institutions.”

Chair of the conference organising committee Ramon Scurrah, ITS Director from Waikato Institute of Technology, added:

“As the only competition in the country specifically recognising ICT excellence in the tertiary sector, we believe these awards set the benchmark for IT professionals, and will foster further innovations in the year to come.”

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.

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