United Kingdom-based school plans large-scale deployment of Mediasite Enterprise Video Platform

MADISON, Wis. — February 06, 2014 — Sonic Foundry, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFO), the trusted leader for video content management and webcasting solutions, today announced the University of Leeds, one of the world’s top 100 universities according to QS World University Rankings,  selected Mediasite Enterprise Video Platform for lecture capture and multimedia management.

“This is a significant investment which will transform teaching and learning here at Leeds,” said Professor Neil Morris, Director of Digital Learning at the University of Leeds. “Not only can we capture all our audio and video assets, but Mediasite will allow us to store, manage and publish content across multiple channels. We are unique in having a digital strategy that encompasses all of these elements.”

The University had captured lectures previously on a limited scale, but sought to create a larger initiative with a single video platform that integrates with its Blackboard learning management system.  The University will capture rich video recordings of lectures and other teaching activities with Mediasite, giving students a flexible and personalized approach to learning.

Because the initiative will be backed by Mediasite Enterprise Video Platform, all content will be searchable, secure and managed in one place. The University expects to capture about 50,000 hours of content annually.  

“We know our students learn in different ways, so as well as attending lectures, this gives them the opportunity to engage with the materials wherever they may be and at their own pace. Whether that’s going over topics that are particularly complex or using recordings to help with revision, this new system will provide over 30,000 students with outstanding resources to support their learning,” Morris said.

Additionally, all faculty and students will have access to the My Mediasite environment for creating and managing video-based training modules, lectures and assignments from desktops or mobile devices. They will be able to share their content on internal digital channels made available through a new campus video portal powered by Mediasite.

Prior to selecting Mediasite, the University completed an extensive assessment of available lecture capture and video content management solutions.

“Our digital strategy gives Leeds a distinctive advantage and a competitive edge when it comes to enhancing the student experience,” said Professor Vivien Jones, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Student Education. “As well as meeting the needs and expectations of our students, it also offers our staff the chance to develop new teaching methods, from supplementing their activities which richer online course content to using valuable contact time for more interaction and problem based learning.”  

“We are proud to partner with an institution of University of Leeds’ caliber for its lecture capture and video content management initiatives,” said Gary Weis, Sonic Foundry chief executive officer. “Incorporating academic video into the classroom helps faculty connect with the 21^st century student. By introducing My Mediasite, the university is making it even easier for students and professors to share knowledge anytime, anywhere.”