Optus Business wins $2.3m Cisco deal to build smart classrooms at South West TAFE

Optus Business has signed a $2.3 million contract with South West TAFE to transform teaching methodology and techniques.

Optus Business and South West TAFE have created 15 intelligent Smart Classrooms that will support 5000 students across the Warrnambool, Hamilton and Portland campuses, in Victoria.

Every classroom has an audience response and video conferencing technology, which includes Cisco WebEx and Jabber for improving remote access for students.

Campus servers have been moved onto Cisco Meraki wireless network allowing access to students located as far as 200 kilometres away.

South West TAFE director of business renewal Brad Henderson said: “By partnering with Optus Business we’re now able to gear our courses and teaching methods to the jobs of tomorrow and improve access through connected classrooms.”

Henderson said that the solution makes education more accessible for students and teachers without “sacrificing the collaboration nature” of a traditional classroom.

“In the future we could see teachers meet students off-site for on-the-job training and host a quick catch-up tutorial via a mobile device,” Henderson added.

Optus Business managing director John Paitaridis said the announcement showed how organisations are partnering to align the skills in demand.

“Optus Business is proud to support South West TAFE’s strategic vision to bring TAFE into the digital era, better aligning with local industry needs and boosting their students employability.”

The journalist travelled to Melbourne courtesy of Cisco.