Cisco's Collaborative Solution Gives University's 15,000 Students, Faculty and Staff Members the Freedom to be Productive from anywhere, on any Device

DOHA, Qatar, 03 March 2013 - Cisco announced today that Qatar University has deployed Cisco Jabber® to enable its community of 15,000 students, faculty and staff members to connect, communicate and collaborate from any workspace, whether a PC, Mac or iPad, or mobile device. Cisco Jabber facilitates access to presence, instant messaging (IM), voice, video, voice messaging, desktop sharing, and conferencing. It allows users to see if and how other users are available, and then collaborate using their preferred method.

Located in Doha, Qatar University is the first, largest, and most prominent institution for higher education in Qatar. It regards communications and collaboration as strategic tools for learning and administrative efficiency.  With the rapid adoption of smartphones and tablets by the student community, globally, Qatar University sees the adoption of Cisco's collaborative technology solutions as key to enriching their learning experience and as well as increasing administrative efficiency.  

Cisco partnered with Mannai Networks, largest Systems Integrator in Qatar, to architect, build and support the deployment.

Highlights/Key Facts:

  • Qatar University has embarked on an ambitious initiative that aims to continually evolve the quality of instructional and educational services, and optimize the performance of instructors and administrators who frequently work on virtual teams with members in different locations. Students, faculty and staff are viewed as an integral part of this plan and communication with them is a priority.

  • Cisco Jabber is a soft phone with HD video and desktop sharing capabilities powered by Cisco Unified Communications Manager call-control.  Delivering secure, reliable communications it will enable Qatar University students to dynamically form and participate in virtual communities.  It will also provide them with a collaboration tool to help them work together on any device at any time. As a result this will help to cut costs and streamline administrative and operational processes and also lower professional development costs in the future.

  • Cisco Jabber not only simplifies communications it also enhances productivity. It allows users to easily access voice, video, presence, instant messaging, voice messaging, desktop sharing, and conferencing capabilities. Furthermore, users can instantly interact with IM and Presence thereby reducing delays and allowing them to view users' availability and chat with individuals or groups, within and outside the organization.

  • Cisco Jabber is integrated with Microsoft Office. Users can click to initiate communications such as chat, voice or video calls, or multiparty conferences. It will also facilitate communications across campus with mobile voice, video, IM, and web conferencing enabling students and staff to use their preferred device and get the same experience as operating from their desktop.

Executive Quotes:

ITS chief information officer, Trevor Moore at Qatar University

"We chose Cisco's innovative and leading collaborative technology solution because our goal is to evolve the quality of instructional and educational services that Qatar University offers and ensure that they meet the ever-growing demands of 21st century technology. Our mission has always been to lead the way with innovative, groundbreaking technology and Cisco's solutions will help to keep us ahead of the game. In an environment where students have an increasing choice of establishments for their higher education we need to ensure the Qatar University continues to lead the way and sets the benchmark for universities in the region so that we can continue to attract the best students and faculty not only in Qatar but throughout the Middle East."

Den Sullivan, head of Architectures & Enterprise, Emerging Markets

"Cisco's collaborative technology solutions such as Jabber are now making a vital impact across a wide gambit of industry sectors and vertical markets and our work with Qatar University goes a long way to illustrate just how versatile and adaptable our portfolio is. Enhancing and supporting education in the Middle East is one of our Cisco goals so we are honored to be associated with this landmark higher educational deployment in Qatar. Our approach is helping Qatar University to create a learning environment vision which we are confident will be adopted by many other leading educational establishments in the region."

Links / URLs:

About Qatar University:
In 1973, Qatar's first national College of Education was founded following a decree by the Emir of Qatar in his vision to place education as a priority in the country's expansion. Among a small population, the college admitted a respectable 57 male and 93 female students in its first year. The country's rapid development highlighted the need to expand the College to provide additional areas of specialization in line with the needs of the population.  Hence in 1977, Qatar University was founded with four new colleges --   Education, Humanities & Social Sciences, Sharia, Law & Islamic Studies, and Science.  The College of Engineering was later established in 1980, followed by the College of Business and Economics.  The University added the Pharmacy Program to its academic portfolio in 2006 - the first in Qatar -- and later established it as the College of Pharmacy in 2008. Today, Qatar University comprises seven colleges:  Arts and Sciences; Business and Economics; Education; Engineering; Law; Pharmacy; and Sharia and Islamic Studies.  The university has over the years added a wide range of new programs that are aligned with the growing needs of the labor market and the aspirations of the society it serves. It currently boasts a population of over 8000 students and an alumni body of over 30,000. For more details visit: http://www.qu.edu.qa

About Cisco:
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO, is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com.  For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.  Cisco equipment in emerging markets is supplied by Cisco Systems International BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.-

Contact Information:
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© Press Release 2013