American University in Kuwait plans to deploy SunGard SCT's e-Education Solutions

The sublicense agreement between AUK and National Offset Computers was signed by Sheikha Dana Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, chairwoman of the AUK Board of Trustees, and chairwoman of the United Education Company (UEC), and Armando Yaya, general manager of National Offset Computers, a vehicle for collaborative high-technology projects in Kuwait.

"This agreement reflects AUK's commitment to provide a first class service to its students. We will continue in this line as we consider this a contract between us and future generations of Kuwait," said Shaika Dana.

SCT Banner is a fully integrated, Oracle- and Web-based technology solution available today for higher education. At its core is a leading suite of software applications for student information, advancement, human resources, financial aid, and finance. AUK chose SCT Banner because of its established best practices for processes at the University and to reduce AUK's infrastructure integration costs. SCT Banner was also chosen to provide process efficiency benefits, reduction in overheads and predictable management and upgrade costs.

The American University in Kuwait will be the first liberal arts institution of its kind in the region offering the highest level of education through its international curriculum and will deploy advanced, online technologies aimed at enriching student learning and engaging parents in the education process. The University will accommodate 500 students upon installation of the SunGard SCT solutions, with a further 500 added each year for a total 3,000 students.

"AUK believes in the central role of technology in education; it is a tool rather than an objective," said Dr. Shafeeq Ghabra, president, American University of Kuwait. "AUK will be at the technology forefront in the region; to meet the level of service to students, faculty and administration. AUK recognizes it needs systems that help it reach that goal. Because AUK wants to achieve the highest standards in services to staff, faculty and students, we chose SunGard SCT's Banner Suite, already used in the Gulf and elsewhere in the world. In the USA, as in the Gulf, SunGard SCT is an acknowledged leader."

Mathew Boice, general manager marketing and channel sales EMEA, at SunGard SCT, said, "SunGard SCT has a wide range of solutions that help to meet the needs of today's educational institutions. Through our e-Education framework, SunGard SCT is able to deliver infrastructure solutions that have helped over 1,300 universities across the world to empower students, faculty and administration, improve operational performance and leverage new and existing IT investments."