The UOC and IBM sign a technological and scientific collaboration agreement
[15/04/2008]
The UOC and IBM have signed a framework agreement for technological and scientific collaboration that envisions increased activities by both parties in terms of new technology training and research, as well as the development of two training projects. This agreement continues collaborative relations that date back to 1998 and the creation of a joint chair.
The UOC and IBM have signed a framework agreement for technological and scientific collaboration that envisions increased activities by both parties in terms of new technology training and research, as well as the development of two training projects. This agreement continues collaborative relations that date back to 1998 and the creation of a joint chair.
Imma Tubella, President of the UOC, and Amparo Moraleda, President of IBM Spain, Portugal, Greece, Israel and Turkey, have singed a collaboration agreement for joint work to improve academic and skills training for the University’s students. With this in mind, IBM is to collaborate in the design and production of the contents and materials for a 150-hour postgraduate course in a new discipline that is to be offered under the title of SSME (Services Science, Management and Engineering).
As part of this collaboration, the Company is to provide professionals with knowledge and experience in this business area, as well as specific training materials for the subject. The idea is for the course to evolve into a postgraduate qualification.
In turn, the UOC, the body in charge of managing the activities, is to provide the documentation and materials needed to teach the classes, as well as the specific infrastructure for the course start-up. The forecast launch date is provisionally set for mid-2008.
Improving accessibility for the disabled
Likewise, the Fundació per a la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Foundation for the Open University of Catalonia, FUOC) and IBM have signed a framework agreement for scientific collaboration that involves a joint initiative looking at usability, mobility and accessibility in banking.
Amparo Moraleda, President of IBM Spain, Portugal, Greece, Israel and Turkey, and Óscar Aguer, the representative for the FUOC, have signed a collaboration agreement for joint work on the design of tools to improve banking self-service provisions, whether at ATMs or online. The aim is to stress the value of usability and accessibility in this kind on banking platform, so as to improve the user’s experience, paying special attention to adapting to the specific needs of those with physical or sensorial impairments.
Throughout the collaboration process, which is to include the production of reports and prototypes, IBM is to provide know-how from specialist professionals from the retail and banking areas of Barcelona’s European Banking Industry Solution Centre.
In turn, the FUOC is to contribute by providing experts with competencies in the areas of IT application customisation, usability and accessibility.
Computer Science, Technology and Multimedia