Scottish IT link gets Pounds 5m boost

Scottish higher education is poised to set up one of Europe's most advanced information technology networks, with a Pounds 5 million boost from 바카라사이트 Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.

SHEFC has already put Pounds 2.4 million into setting up Metropolitan Area Networks, a superhighway scheme linking higher education institutions in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fife-Tayside and Aberdeen. The new funding will link 바카라사이트 four MANs in a Wide Area Network for all 21 higher education institutions.

SHEFC also hopes to fund a connection from 바카라사이트 Aberdeen MAN to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, which could be extended to allow 바카라사이트 Highlands and Islands to join 바카라사이트 network.

Building computer links between medical schools and teaching hospitals is one of 30 pilot projects which SHEFC is funding, which aim to exploit 바카라사이트 potential of 바카라사이트 high-speed, high-capacity network. These include establishing video conferencing facilities, developing a multimedia music network which can be used for interactive distance learning and performance, and creating web servers for placing information on 바카라사이트 Internet.

John Sizer, chief executive of SHEFC, said: "In 바카라사이트 current climate of constrained funding, 바카라사이트 creative use of information technology can play a key role in maintaining and developing 바카라사이트 effectiveness and quality of Scottish higher education. This new initiative will ensure that Scottish universities and colleges remain at 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트 information revolution."

SHEFC's support is likely to extend to backing a pilot project for a Scottish higher education television channel, which is currently being considered by 바카라사이트 Committee of Scottish Higher Education Principals.