KUWAIT UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES ORACLE-BASED INTERNET PORTAL TO 20,000 STUDENTS
Online Educational Portal Removes Manual Processes, Increases Student Access to Critical Information

Kuwait University's new educational portal was created initially as a Student Information System (SIS) gateway to provide a common user friendly interface through the web. The portal is now also being used by university staff for student transfers and other time-consuming tasks. Not only can students provide valuable feedback on courses and programmes of study, but also the University plans to accept applications from potential new students via the internet and to enable parent-focused services.

"Enhancing communication opportunities between the students, faculty, and administration, as well as between the University and the outside world, is really the overall objective of our educational portal," commented Dr. Anwar Al Yatama, Kuwait University's Director, Centre for Information Systems and Assistant Vice President for Academic Support Services.

"Since the launch of the portal, its rapid adoption by the students and staff has encouraged us to develop a number of new Internet-related initiatives, including the integration with the University's business applications, and the creation of a library management system. The idea is to provide an easy-to-use, up-to-the-minute, single source for information about the University community," Al Yatama added.

Kuwait University's online project is based on the Oracle Portal, and utilizes the Oracle 9i Application Server and Oracle's Unbreakable database, Oracle9i. It is the Middle East's first implementation site for Oracle's new 9i Real Application Clusters. With a large number of current online users and more to follow, the University chose Oracle as its technology partner based on performance, reliability and the ability of the technology to scale upward, or grow as the number of system users increases.

In addition to front-office interaction with students, Kuwait University is working to integrated its back-end Oracle financials, payroll and human resources solutions with the new portal. The library component of the online project is expected to be available by mid-2002. Soon, students using the portal will be able to access all of their daily applications, including e-mail, productivity tools, class schedules, research assignments, course registrations, and the university library. Students can also personalize their Portal Web interface to get news and calendar events of specific relevance to them.

The University is also considering the online portal's potential use for Web-based interaction with its suppliers. Oracle Portal's functionality would enable the University to create online Requests for Proposals (RFPs) as well as participate in Internet-based auctions for goods and services.

"Kuwait University's educational portal is one of the most innovative, flexible and user-friendly Internet projects currently taking place in the Middle East. It's an initiative that meets current business needs, both those of the students and the administration, while creating opportunities for greater functionality and benefit in the immediate future," stated Ayman Abouseif, Oracle's marketing director for Eastern, Central Europe and Middle East, Africa. "The project benefits immensly from the quick development and deployment capabilities offered by Oracle Portal, the single sign on enabled by Oracle's 9i Application Server and the high level of security, availability and scalability offered by Oracle's Unbreakable database, Oracle 9i with Real Application Clusters".

"The University is working with Oracle not only to reduce paperwork and become more efficient, but ultimately, to more effectively interact both internally and externally. Other educational institutions in the region, as well as the private and government sectors, can learn a great deal from Kuwait University's pioneering educational portal," Abouseif added.

About Kuwait University

For information about Kuwait University please visit http://www.kuniv.edu.kw/.

About Oracle

Oracle Corporation is the world's largest enterprise software company. For more information about Oracle in the Middle East, please visit our web site at www.oracle.com/me or contact Ayman Abouseif on +971 4 3313828.

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