University of Antwerp Adopts Blackboard Learn 9.1 and Mobile Support to Enhance Teaching and Learning

Moves Emphasize Sharing Resources and Cost Savings Across Flanders

AMSTERDAM--()--The University of Antwerp has moved to Blackboard Learn 9.1 to significantly improve the quality of teaching and learning across its consortium of six colleges in the region and to further develop educational projects that leverage Web 2.0 technologies, Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB) announced today.

With the increasing adoption of smartphones among students, the university, the third largest in Flanders, is also planning to support mobile learning with Blackboard Mobile Learn™ through native applications for some of the world’s most popular mobile devices and platforms.

The University of Antwerp is hosting the Release 9.1 platform centrally to support over 40,000 users across the consortium, providing significant cost savings to the consortium colleges while creating a more modern and engaging learning environment focused on the evolving needs of students. By incorporating a wide range of built-in social learning tools like blogs and wikis and the ability to integrate multimedia content from Web 2.0 sources, Release 9.1 helps create a richer and more integrated learning experience to drive stronger student satisfaction.

With improved central grading, tracking and plagiarism detection enabled through the platform’s Gradebook and SafeAssign solutions and the ability to quickly perform multiple file uploads, Antwerp’s instructors can spend less time on logistics within the virtual learning environment and more time focused on ensuring students are fully engaged in day to day learning.

“Blackboard seamlessly incorporates all the things that are important to learning institutions, which ultimately leads to a better user experience and increased satisfaction amongst students – which is why we have such a high adoption,” said Filip Seuntjens, IT Project Manager at the University of Antwerp. “We value that Blackboard ensures technological innovation and keeps pace with advancements in the education industry. We want to ensure that Blackboard Learn becomes the single portal and source of information for everyone at our institution.”

The University of Antwerp was founded in 2003 after the merger of three universities previously known as RUCA (State University Centre Antwerp), UFSIA (University Faculties Saint Ignatius Antwerp) and UIA (University Institution Antwerp). In addition to upgrading to Blackboard Learn 9.1, Antwerp has also adopted the Community Engagement and Content Management modules.

More than 1,500 institutions have moved or are planning a move to Blackboard’s latest version to take advantage of its improved stability and digital content advancements, social learning tools to drive student engagement and greater workflow efficiencies for instructors and administrators.

For more information about Blackboard Learn, please visit http://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Learn/Overview.aspx

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About Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB) is a global leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that improve the experience of millions of students and learners around the world every day. Blackboard's solutions allow thousands of higher education, K-12, professional, corporate, and government organizations to extend teaching and learning online, facilitate campus commerce and security, and communicate more effectively with their communities. Founded in 1997, Blackboard is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Blackboard and other statements containing the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “will,” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Form 10-K filed on February 18, 2011 and Form 10-Q filed on August 4, 2011 with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of September 22, 2011. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company’s views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to September 22, 2011.

Contacts

Geraldine Fernandez/ Robert Hickling
020 8971 6417/ 6427
gfernandez@saycomms.co.uk
rhickling@saycomms.co.uk
or
Blackboard Inc.
Matthew Maurer,
+ 001 202-463-4860 ext. 2637
matthew.maurer@blackboard.com

Release Summary

The University of Antwerp has moved to Blackboard Learn™ 9.1 to significantly improve the quality of teaching and learning across its consortium of six colleges in the region.

Contacts

Geraldine Fernandez/ Robert Hickling
020 8971 6417/ 6427
gfernandez@saycomms.co.uk
rhickling@saycomms.co.uk
or
Blackboard Inc.
Matthew Maurer,
+ 001 202-463-4860 ext. 2637
matthew.maurer@blackboard.com