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Current Research
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Assiniboine Community College - General Overview
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ACC is one of the few post-secondary institutions in the
country that does not yet have access to a high-speed
R&E network. A connection to MRnet will extend research
and development opportunities and the many benefits
that ultra-high-speed networks can provide by establishing an
independent high-speed network between MRnet’s point of
presence at Brandon University and ACC.
ACC intends to be an integral part of Manitoba’s applied
research efforts at their new location in Brandon. Connection
to MRnet will be a bridge to innovation and increased
competitiveness.
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ACC and Brandon University
signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the spring of
2009, committing the two institutions to a higher degree of
collaboration in the development and delivery of articulated
programming, and in applied research. Connecting ACC
enables both institutions to share courses through video conferencing.
The use of this technology could also lead to increased
enrolment in Brandon by Aboriginal students from
remote northern locations, as they could maintain face-to-face
contact with family and friends through video conferencing
This has the potential to limit the isolation sometimes felt in
urban environments.
The increased connectivity will allow ACC’s electronic distance
education to reach new areas. These increased capabilities
will also increase the desire for co-operation on projects
and initiatives with other institutions.
The benefits of this connection are many. Once ACC is connected
to MRnet, staff and students will have high-speed access
to resources from other Universities, Colleges and facilities
of qualifying members throughout Manitoba, Canada
and the world. The high-speed connection allows many network
applications normally available in metro settings to become
a reality in a more rural setting. The partnerships created
will create opportunities for other collaborative projects.
All partners can benefit by doing their computer backups off
site over the high-speed connection, fulfilling best practices for
disaster recovery plans. Access to high-speed networks can
also address faculty and staff recruitment issues. Affordable
quality video conferencing becomes possible.
Although not all College campuses are to be connected via
high-speed connections at this time, those not connected directly
will have a window to MRnet because of the College
VPN. As technology changes, the rest of the campuses will
gain high-speed connections, giving them the same benefit
as the proposed campuses. |
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