Students around the world took part in the Olivet University’s first Convocatio Ceremony video-conference.

With the help of Olivet-developed technology, student communities in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea were able to participate in the Spring 2007 Convocation Ceremony that took place at Olivet University Chapel in San Francisco, California on Friday. Broadcast streams of Convocation were also available in RealVideo and RealAudio formats in regions across Africa, Australia, Europe, South Asia, South Asia, North America South America.

Academic Director Tracy McNeal explained that the video conference featured at this year’s Convocation is a preview of the voice, video and web conferencing tools that the University expects to utilize more actively in 2007.

“The technology we’ve developed at Olivet is enabling us to communicate online with students, staff and partners in real time–both individually and in large assemblies, such as Opening Convocation,” she commented. “We consider this year’s ceremony to be a very appropriate and significant program that foretastes greater face-to-face online engagement with the international community.”

The 2007 Opening Convocation was streamed on a private space on the web using technology developed collaboratively by the University’s Division of Information Systems and Research & Development Unit, under the leadership of Director, Mr. William Wong.

“Our goal is to develop and use technology to better fulfill our mission,” he said. “Video-conferencing lectures are a step forward. Next is mobile technology to make access to the Olivet’s educational material easier and faster.”

After the ceremony students were encouraged to exchange their reflections online with each other and Olivet University administrators to memorialize the historic ceremony.