Thirteen Norwegian universities use UNINETT framework to select Canvas and drive progress in digital learning

Canvas and UNINETT build national teaching and learning community

LONDON, March 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Canvas by Instructure (NYSE:INST), the open online learning management system (LMS) that makes teaching and learning easier, has signed 13 new customers in Norway. They include, Norwegian Academy of Music, University of Agder, Nord Universitet, Norwegian School of Economics, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, University College of Southeast Norway, University of Stavanger, and Western Norway University of Applied Sciences,

Customers have implemented Canvas for its open, user-centred approach to digital learning, which delivers transformative features such as in-depth analytics, SpeedGrader and Arc, the next generation of active video learning.

This news follows the selection of Canvas as preferred supplier of UNINETT, the government-owned organisation responsible for Norway's National Research and Education Network. The groundbreaking partnership means that UNINETT members, including 17 Norwegian universities, colleges and research institutions, are able to choose Canvas without a cumbersome formal procurement process. UNINETT has also announced its commitment to furthering best practice use of technology in education, investing significantly in initiatives such as a nationwide training programme and a national community for teachers to share ideas and knowledge. Canvas Commons, a learning object repository seamlessly integrated with Canvas, is also being used to enable teachers to collaborate on content creation and curation.

Olav Isak Sjøflot, director of services & deployment at UNINETT, said: "Our partnership with Instructure allows us to offer a flexible, adaptable and intuitive cloud-based platform to power a digital learning environment. This framework approach to procurement supports our ambition to facilitate collaboration and cooperation between universities, where they can discuss and develop common best practices for a digital learning environment. Working together with organisations like Instructure and institutions in the region, we have the ability to push technology-supported learning and teaching further by promoting common concerns and priorities."

Choosing Canvas as their LMS in January 2017, University College of Southeast Norway (USN) was the first institution to take advantage of the UNINETT framework. John Viflot, Leader USN Digital, said: "The robust review process, which UNINETT carried out in the LMS market, helps institutions like us. With Canvas appointed as the preferred supplier, it has enabled us to reduce the evaluation and decision cycle. But equally importantly, we know that Canvas will deliver on our wider pedagogy-led objectives — and its user-centred design will be crucial in helping us make teaching and learning better."

Nora Clarke, leading the project at the University of Agder, commented: "We worked closely with our colleagues in the education sector in Norway to ensure the national UNINETT project was a success, and we are very happy with the outcome. UiA's strategy of "Learning and Education for the Future" is fuelled by our firm commitment to deliver an engaging research-based learning experience. Canvas will be crucial in supporting this initiative. We have high expectations of what Instructure can deliver — both with Canvas as a tool, and its supporting team — to help us at the University of Agder make our ambitions a reality."

Kenny Nicholl, vice president, Canvas EMEA, said: "This partnership has already delivered beyond expectations. Not only has it already enabled 13 institutions to implement Canvas, working with UNINETT has driven pedagogical initiatives across the region. A user community that shares, collaborates and drives best practices promises to deliver significant improvements to teaching and learning. We look forward to continuing our work with UNINETT to meet the needs of educators at all stages of their technology journey."

ABOUT INSTRUCTURE
Instructure, Inc. is a leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology company that makes software that makes people smarter. With a vision to help maximize the potential of people through technology, Instructure created Canvas and Bridge to enable organizations everywhere to easily develop, deliver and manage engaging face-to-face and online learning experiences. To date, Instructure has connected millions of instructors and learners at more than 2,000 educational institutions and corporations throughout the world. Learn more about Canvas for higher ed and K-12, and Bridge for the corporate market at www.Instructure.com.

CONTACTS:
Rachel Matthews
Instructure
rmmatthews@instructure.com

Dan Thompson / Emily Goodbrand-Dillon
Third City
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S: 020 3657 9773

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