Sun Microsystems Partners with VTU e-Learning to launch VTU-EDUSAT PROGRAMME - 9

Heralds yet another milestone in satellite based distance learning
 

Bangalore, September 18, 2008 - Sun Microsystems India today announced the next phase in its partnership with Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Karnataka to launch - VTU EDUSAT Programme – 9. As part of this program, Sun Microsystems Learning services will conduct 50 hours of free-of-cost training on Sun technologies which will be beamed on the EDUSAT network to all the 111 VTU colleges and recorded for re-play in the future. The training will be conducted as part of Sun's training and certification activities by instructors from Sun Learning Services, Sun's engineers from Sun India Engineering Center, evangelists , and other subject matter experts.

The topics covered will aim to give the students an introduction to cutting edge technologies with additional inputs on how to prepare for a careers in software development in an increasingly open source world. With Sun's thought leadership in the field of open source, Sun is best suited to giving students across VTU, expert knowledge on several key areas like Java, Open Solaris, Identity Management, Virtualization, SOA, and the most popular open source database, MySQL. Through this program, Sun learning and VTU aim to providing the students, even in the remotest parts of Karnataka, the opportunity to hear renowned industry experts speak on these tech

EDUSAT, is the world's first satellite meant exclusively for education sector, which was launched in 2004 by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in its quest to use front line space based communication technologies in the field of education and development. VTU is one of the foremost universities in the country to implement the EDUSAT programme and since then the program has met with considerable success. Through the EDUSAT network all colleges under VTU are connected and have the benefit of viewing special training programmes beamed on the satellite.

Speaking on the occasion, Anil Valluri, Vice President & Managing Director, Sun Microsystems India said, “The application of technology in education has helped break barriers to education, whether cultural, economic, or physical. Further, advances in technology have helped open new vistas for teaching, learning and collaboration that is altering the face of education in the country. At Sun, we are committed to leveraging our strengths in open source technology to fuel this transformation.

Mr. K Nageswara Rao, Senior Director and Site Lead, India Engineering Center, who inaugurated the sessions, added “This satellite-based medium provides a great opportunity for Sun to connect with a largestudent audience . This effort represents a commitment from Sun to invest in the campus community to bring about lasting effects on the development of the IT workforce in India. Through VTU-EDUSAT PROGRAMME – 9 we hope to reach out to thousands of students from VTU colleges in the state. We are thus strengthening our vision of bridging the digital divide.”

Prof. Dr. T N Nagabhushan, Special Officer, E-Learning of VTU added “ VTU has always been committed to bringing quality technical education to the reach of every student in the state of Karnataka. With that in mind, we have been using the EDUSAT network extensively to support students in rural Karnataka. This activity with Sun Microsystems is one more important milestone in our endeavor to help all VTU students get access to the best learning experiences.”

The platform also encourages collaboration between schools, enabling educators to easily share teaching best practices across local and global borders. Since the commissioning of EDUSAT network connecting all the 120 engineering colleges of VTU, classes are being conducted for about 8 hours daily. The students spread across Karnataka state have benefited immensely by listening and interacting with some of the best subject experts. Every semester, 7 to 8 subjects are taught. The subjects covering various disciplines like civil, mechanical, electronics, electrical, computer science and information science are being transmitted live everyday from VTU Studio situated at DSERT campus at Bangalore

About VTU
Visvesvaraya Technological University, (VTU), is the foremost technical University in Karnataka, India. It offers courses in engineering, technology and management. All engineering colleges, numbering over 111, in the state of Karnataka are affiliated to this university. Around 38,000 fresh students join the University every year. The University has 25 branches of Bachelor of Engineering and 54 branches of Masters in Technology courses. The university offers MBA, MCA, M Sc, Ph.D. Program. The university is also known for its record number of placement activities. Every year thousands of students are recruited by various companies through campus placement programs. Since the 'IT Capital' of India is touted to be the city of Bangalore, several companies recruit students directly from the VTU campuses. Colleges affiliated to this University predominantly cater to students at rural Karnataka.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Sun Microsystems develops the technologies that power the global marketplace. Guided by a singular vision -- "The Network is the Computer" -- Sun drives network participation through shared innovation, community development and open source leadership. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the Web at http://sun.com