The secretary of state for education, Charles Clarke, has applauded a tie-up between the University of Birmingham and Microsoft to research the impact of mobile technologies on learning within the higher education sector.

As part of the partnership, the Centre of Educational Technology and Distance Learning (CETADL), which was set up at the university two years ago, will investigate how mobile technologies can be used to improve the education process and open up opportunities for remote learning.

The three-year programme will include research into the use of mobile technologies for supporting learning through online mentoring and peer collaboration. Microsoft will fund some projects directly and will also provide CETADL with support, training and software.

Speaking at the programme's launch, Clarke told CETADL: "We have to use new teaching methods to draw students into learning from wherever they are. The work you're doing on mobile learning is thrilling and the partnership with Microsoft is a major part of that."

Stephen Uden, group manager of education relations at Microsoft, denied that the six-figure investment was an attempt to boost sales of Microsoft technology to universities.

"The government spends a huge amount of money on IT. We have a charge to demonstrate that represents value for money and make sure the technology is used effectively," he said.

Meanwhile, Charles Clarke this week announced a greater remit for the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta), following a review of its five years of operations.

Becta's increased will move from being a mainly delivery-focused organisation to becoming a strategic partner with the government, to develop use of IT in education.