AUT University art and design students are among the university’s Mac users who will benefit from a new Apple computer deal.
A supply agreement signed with Renaissance Ltd’s Apple Computer Division means students will get the latest Mac computers and instant IT support. The group will provide Apple hardware, imaging, installation and on-site servicing as well as training and advice on future planning.
There are more than 500 Apple computers on AUT campuses. Most are used in the schools of Art and Design and Communication Studies, and the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences. Renaissance provides AUT staff with technical training. It also recently contributed iPods for use on Te Ara Poutama’s te reo Maori iPod trial and supported AUT senior lecturer Peter Mellow’s nationwide mobile phone learning tool ‘studytxt.’
The agreement means Renaissance and AUT will seek more partnership opportunities, particularly in academic advancement and research.
AUT’s IT Services Director Liz Gosling says the university is committed to providing students with the latest technologies to best prepare them for their professional lives. “We are focussed on ensuring the technologies used at AUT are of the highest quality. Our partnership with Renaissance provides for the best level of equipment, support and training for our staff and students,” she said in the press release.
Apple Computer Division’s national education manager Graham Prentice says AUT’s commitment to supporting their Mac users is second to none. “We are excited to be a business partner with such a forward looking institution,” he said in the release. “AUT is as concerned in looking after their academic staff needs as they are with the economics of staying at the forefront. AUT are institutional leaders in building external partnerships. We are pleased to be part of its ongoing innovation and commitment to the changing needs of its students and staff.”
Apple Computer Division’s executive account manager Tim Durrant says working so closely with AUT from supply to support means the possibilities are endless.
“AUT staff are doing amazing things with Macs, design, iPods, advanced video editing, podcasting, flexible learning, portables – you name it. It’s great to be directly involved with academics and support staff and to make sure the latest technologies are being used wisely.”
For more information about ‘studytxt’ visit: http://www.studyTXT.com.
For more information about Te Ara Poutama’s te reo Mâori iPod trial visit: http://www.aut.ac.nz/corp/newsrelease/?468
For my part, I accept your points MacBusnessMan, although many of those costs also apply to PC dealers in Godzone.
As my second post indicated, I’ll always dig deeper for a Mac. However, if you’re selling Macs for a living, it can’t be easy to convince potential switchers that they should pay almost twice as much for a Mac Mini CPU as for a fully configured PC.
“all power to Auckland Uni for making such great use of Macs.”
Just to be clear This isn’t the “University of Auckland”, which is a “real” university. It’s a 3rd rate technical school (similar in concept to say ITT tech) running mostly 1-2 year programs focused on work skills which uses the word “University” in it’s name to appear more prestigious then it is.
“It’s a 3rd rate technical school”
Our courses are a lot more useful than some of the crap taught at Auckland Uni.
“Our courses are a lot more useful than some of the crap taught at Auckland Uni.”
Yes, That may be true for some courses, in that they are vocational training rather than say a university Arts degree.
What are you studying? Dance? Beauty Therapy? Oral Hygiene? Sport? Maori Media?
What gives? The above discussion on Mac pricing in NZ (Micro Me, MacBusnessMan, et al) was measured and rational. Lets keep it that way.
Coincidentally, the complex issue of the cost of Macs down under has just resurfaced in the latest MDN thread – “Some Aussie schools dumping Macs ‘due to cost’ ” (http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/10621/)