OpenText, Institute of Public Administration of Canada Launch Global Service for Government Employees

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Jun 07, 2011, 09:25 ET

Public Service Without Borders Offers Social Community Connecting Public Servants Worldwide

WATERLOO, ON, June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - OpenText™ (NASDAQ: OTEX, TSX: OTC) today announced that it has joined forces with the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) to launch a new and exciting service for the public sector around the world called Public Service Without Borders (PSWB, www.pswb-spsf.ca).

The secure, cloud-enabled collaboration and social media site, based on OpenText's Social Workplace software, will connect all levels of public service employees to one another in order to network, share ideas, impart valuable lessons learned in such areas as governance, healthcare, technology and the environment, and engage.

Whether via the Internet or through mobile devices, participants will be able to connect, network, plan and deliver exciting new partnerships and initiatives at anytime, from anywhere in the world. Whether you are a Canadian, American, South African, Brazilian, British, Chinese or Indian public-sector employee, you can now connect to PSWB and engage with colleagues in a safe and secure fashion; whether to exchange policies, compare programs, or simply network.

"IPAC recognizes the need to facilitate the flow of ideas and best practices across all orders of government and areas of public services," said Denise Amyot, IPAC's President, adding, "PSWB will create links between knowledgeable individuals, as much as between institutions and jurisdictions in an objective and non-partisan environment, to ensure that expertise, research, and best practices are shared widely."

"Public administration touches the lives of citizens around the world through the daily actions of their governments," said Tom Jenkins, Executive Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer of OpenText. "Improving public policies and processes is a constant challenge in our increasingly interconnected world. Public Service Without Borders offers leading social, cloud and mobile technologies to connect the public sector around the world in a way that wasn't possible before to open an exchange of program ideas and solutions."

Jenkins added that PSWB represents one of the world's first truly global, cloud-based government program, one in which OpenText is proud to support, and a program for which IPAC has established truly visionary goals.

OpenText Social Workplace was used as the social workplace forum for world leaders, diplomats and policy makers at the recent G-20 Summits in Seoul, South Korea, and Toronto, Canada. The software helps organizations create a foundation for social collaboration, creating a real-time, community-based network where people can share content and ideas, and work more effectively on projects.

"PSWB is a very good example of how technology can maximize collaboration," remarks Robert Taylor, IPAC's CEO. "Let us start by sharing what we have learned about utilizing social media to engage colleagues and citizens in our own world."

Recent research and guidelines on the use of social media in the public sector has been posted in PSWB to help kick-start the online conversation.

To find out more about PSWB, contact Carole Humphries at the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, [email protected] or 416-924-8787 Ext 234.

About IPAC
IPAC, created in 1947 is a dynamic public sector non-profit organization, which is known for excellence in research, conferences, and knowledge networks and as a source of public administration and public policy expertise in Canada and around the world. IPAC's members include public decision - makers from across Canada, academics, students, and organizations interested in public administration. www.ipac.ca.

About OpenText
OpenText, a global ECM leader, helps organizations manage and gain the true value of their business content. OpenText brings two decades of expertise supporting 100 million users in 114 countries. Working with our customers and partners, we bring together leading Content Experts™ to help organizations capture and preserve corporate memory, increase brand equity, automate processes, mitigate risk, manage compliance and improve competitiveness. For more information, visit www.opentext.com.

Certain statements in this press release may contain words considered forward-looking statements or information under applicable securities laws. These statements are based on Open Text's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the operating environment, economies and markets in which the company operates. These statements are subject to important assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, and the actual outcome may be materially different. Open Text's assumptions, although considered reasonable by the company at the date of this press release, may prove to be inaccurate and consequently its actual results could differ materially from the expectations set out herein. For additional information with respect to risks and other factors which could occur, see Open Text's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other securities filings with the SEC and other securities regulators. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Open Text disclaims any intention or obligations to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Text Corporation. OPENTEXT and OPENTEXT SOCIAL WORKPLACE are trademarks or registered trademarks of Open Text Corporation in the United States of America, Canada, the European Union and/or other countries. This list of trademarks is not exhaustive. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, product names, company names, brands and service names mentioned herein are property of Open Text Corporation or other respective owners.

SOURCE Open Text Corporation