Griffith University staff has joined its 120000 students and alumni and moved to the internet-based cloud solution Google Apps earlier this year.

 

The Queensland university’s pro vice chancellor information services, Ms Linda O'Brien said Google Apps will provide opportunities for staff and students with collaborations.

 

"We were drawn to the fact Google shares similar characteristics to Griffith, with both organisations being innovative, youthful, fast moving and committed to advancing knowledge,” she said.

 

"It makes sense to create an environment that places our staff and students in the same space, facilitating collaboration and learning.

Ms O’Brien said academics need the ability to collaborate globally, to communicate, share and build strong research relationships.
 
She said the university was moving from an on-premise Lotus Notes environment to Google Apps.

 

Main benefits for both staff and faculty will include an increase in mailbox capacity to 25 gigabytes through Gmail and access to a suite of other web based tools like Google docs, Google spreadsheets, Google Calendar and Google Talk.

 

“These tools will enable real time collaboration, better sharing, access to information anytime, anywhere, through a variety of mobile devices,” she said.

 

Pilot groups of staff will move to Google Apps this month and most staff will move after the University’s examination period in November, with all staff to be migrated by March 2012.

 

Assisting Griffith with the implementation and licensing is Google Enterprise Partner, Dialog Information Technology.