The University of Aberdeen has become the first Higher Education Institution in Scotland to give students and alumni a University branded e-mail account for life through its newly launched Studentmail service.
Developed in a global, ground-breaking partnership with Microsoft, the technology is based on Microsoft's Live@EDU Service.
The Studentmail service incorporates an industry standard Microsoft Exchange hosted e-mail service with a range of collaboration and communication tools including on-line contacts, calendaring, instant messaging and a large online file storage area.
Studentmail is now live and integrated into the University's online student registration process so that even new first year students, most of whom do not officially start their studies until September, can already use their University e-mail account.
Accessible worldwide, requiring only an internet connection and a web browser the introduction of the Studentmail system further enhances the University's commitment to deploying leading technological advances. The University already boasts the largest wireless network infrastructure of any Higher Education institute in the UK and all Studentmail tools will also be available on campus through this medium.
Paul Haley, Director of Information Technology, University of Aberdeen said of the new system: "The University of Aberdeen is committed to providing students with the most advanced technologies possible in order to facilitate their studies".
"Promoting collaboration and communication is one of the key objectives of the University. In employing the new Studentmail system we have become the first institution in Scotland, and the first in Europe, to provide students with this unique technology which will benefit them throughout their time with us here at the University and in the future.
"As well as helping to ensure that graduates are already familiar with using industry-standard communications, this new service will enable innovative approaches to teaching and learning at the University.
"When a student graduates we do not see this as the end of their relationship with the University. Whether they wish to continue their professional development through further study, keep in touch with the academic staff who have helped them throughout their academic career, or simply correspond with fellow alumni; the new Studentmail system means that their e-mail account remains available to them for the rest of their life."
Support teams from the University of Aberdeen and Microsoft will ensure that the Studentmail hosted facility provides a leading edge collaborative communications package for the academic and personal needs of students and alumni.
Steven Grier, Education Manager for Microsoft in Scotland said, "The University of Aberdeen is the first educational institution in the world to utilise these technologies hosted in our Dublin Data Centre. It has been a pleasure to partner the University in developing a system that seamlessly integrates existing systems and registration processes within the University, with those technologies hosted by Microsoft in our Data Centre. The University commitment to technological and service excellence has been clear to see".
The arrival of the Studentmail system comes ahead of this month's annual University of Aberdeen Open Day event which will highlight the array of facilities, including information and communications technologies, available to students at the University. Studentmail will be demonstrated to prospective students during the event on August 26.
Aberdeen University Students' Association President, Duncan McKay said: "The IT services and support available to students at Aberdeen is fantastic. The new Studentmail and wireless systems are great examples of the importance attached to the student experience."
For more information about Studentmail visit http://www.abdn.ac.uk/studentmail/
Studentmail will be demonstrated at the University of Aberdeen Open Day which takes place on 26 August. Booking is essential for the Open Day and prospective students must log on to www.abdn.ac.uk/openday to register their place or call Student Recruitment and Admissions on 0800 027 1495, or e-mail: href="mailto:openday@abdn.ac.uk">openday@abdn.ac.uk</a></p>