IT Sligo has become the first third level institution in the in Ireland and the UK, to sign a licence agreement with computer software giant Adobe, which gives Institute students 24/7 access to some of the world’s leading design software from any computer, anywhere with internet access.
Adobe is one of the world’s top digital media and creative software providers, whose most famous product is Photoshop.
Colm Davey, a lecturer in Web and Digital Media at IT Sligo says the agreement will be of huge benefit to IT Sligo students. “We recognise that many students have other commitments – for example, they may be working part-time to put themselves though college and not in a position to spend an evening in the college lab before it shuts at 10pm”. “This significant development initially will provide students with freedom to access this software, to work on assignments and complete coursework, at a time and place that suits them”.
Stephen Reid Co-ordinator of the KITE project at IT Sligo also stressed the significance of the agreement. “This development not only facilitates students who need out of hours access to the software, but also provides the potential to deliver new online courses in this exciting area, further enhancing the Institute’s reputation as a pioneer in online learning”.
He added: “As a result of the KITE project, the institute has successfully delivered a number of live, interactive practical classes to online distance learning students across a range of courses. We are looking forward to facilitating Colm and others in developing new online programmes”
Colm Davey will from next month (February) deliver a number of online tutorials to students, on a pilot basis to help them exploit the potential of this round the clock access. “This development will allow myself and others to develop and deliver full online programmes in the future. Without this unique agreement with Adobe this would not be possible.”
The KITE project is part-funded by the European Union’s Regional Development Fund through the INTERREG IVA cross-border programme. “I am delighted that the benefits of the KITE funding has now extended from Engineering to other departments within the Institute, broadening the benefit this significant funding to other areas”, said Stephen Reid.
- From left to right, Software Development student TJ Wallace with lecturer Colm Davey and Stephen Reid, KITE Project Co-ordinator. TJ’s iPad demonstrates the mobility of the Abodbe licence products now available to students of IT Sligo thanks to a unique licence agreement with Abobe. They are pictured beside the hardware which makes it possible.