Fronter
Fronter chosen as Campus Solution for the University of Vienna
The oldest university in the German-speaking world and one of the largest in Central Europe has selected Fronter as its central Learning Management Solution. The Fronter platform is implemented this autumn and replaces Blackboard Vista.
The contract with Blackboard Vista was about to expire and, looking for alternatives, the University of Vienna put the LMS out to tender. Fronter was chosen to replace Blackboard after an extensive tender process and intensive testing. Fronter was selected from a number of competitors for its attractive cost benefit ratio and level of support and flexibility.
“Fronter’s offer in response to our Software and services for the eLearning-infrastructure for the university of Vienna tender, had the most attractive cost benefit ratio” says Peter Rastl, Director of University of Vienna Computer Service. “We are confident that Fronter meets the user needs specified in our requirements in an optimal way. Fronter offers our users a powerful, stable and flexible solution that meets all the needs of a heterogeneous university society”.
“We are very proud to have been selected as a campus wide solution by one of the oldest universities in Europe”, says Roger Larsen, Fronter Founder and CEO. “The University of Vienna, with its history, experience and commitment to advanced learning strategies, will be a key strategic partner in the further development of the Fronter platform”.
An important factor in the LMS selection process was the possibility to structure the LMS along the lines of the Bologna-Processes. Fronter’s open solution supports modular structures and makes it possible to embed E-Learning and Blended Learning solutions within the LMS. “In the spirit of the Bologna-Processes, Fronter’s platform is student centric”, says Roger Larsen, “it is designed to enhance the learning experience for the individual student and his/her opportunities for collaboration”.
The Austrian University has bought a campus license which covers the whole University, and will host the system on its servers. The agreement includes a 5 year plan for Fronter upgrades as well as support and training. Starting October this year, Fronter will facilitate the change of platform from Blackboard Vista, migrating some 4500 courses from the old platform into the Fronter platform. As of March 2009 Fronter will be available in its full range as the University of Vienna’s eLearning Platform.