La Trobe joins Apple's iTunes U

Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 26 August 2009 11:11

IT People - Training

Many leading universities are using iTunes U as a way of getting their content to a wider audience. The latest to get on board is La Trobe University.

A section of Apple's iTunes Store, iTunes U delivers content from universities, museums and public media organisations. The free downloads vary from course materials through public lectures to documentaries.

The materials can be played on a computer, or transferred to an iPod or iPhone so they can be watched or listened to on the go.

La Trobe - located in Melbourne, Australia - has timed its iTunes U debut to coincide with this Sunday's (August 30) open day at the Bundoora campus.

The university's initial offering consists of around 150 audio and video files, including Robert Manne and Tim Flannery on sustainability and climate change.

"By joining the growing number of universities on iTunes U we are sharing our wealth of knowledge with the global community," said Professor Paul Johnson, La Trobe's vice-chancellor.

"It is our goal to help set the standard for the kind of progressive thought and ideas that iTunes U distributes," he added.

Melbourne's RMIT University joined iTunes U earlier this month. The other Australian participants are Australian National University, Griffith University, Swinburne University, University of Melbourne, University of NSW, and University of WA.