Higher Education

Hybrid Learning

Hybrid learning fully depends on the technology and platforms working efficiently and effectively. A failure in speed or function can quickly see a student's mind wander elsewhere and impact the learning environment for everyone.
Your network is a pivotal element in being able to deliver a hybrid learning environment and must be robust and reliable to empower the Edtech tools used for lessons. Unstable or slow internet can severely impact the ability to deliver the right levels of service to students impacting performance, well-being and outcomes.

Collaboration

Collaboration is key to success in education, but there are a number of challenges that must be overcome. Students and educators need to be able to collaborate both in person and remotely, which means that not only must there be enough space for each person to have their own device, but those devices must be able to work together in order for the collaboration process to be effective.
This can make it difficult for students who may have older or newer technologies than their peers, as well as those who bring their own devices into the classroom environment.

The ability to accommodate multiple devices and platforms requires a collaboration solution that can work across multiple systems and technologies. These challenges can impact on student learning time and the efficiency within the environment to deliver effective education.

Student Access

For Higher Learning institutions, a key area of focus is Student Access and services. Higher learning institutions that have incorporated student success initiatives into their IT strategies, have seen improvements to their public profile, student outcome, and academic success metrics. Administrators must prioritise the integrations that simultaneously support multiple success initiatives. They must also understand how technology defines each student's on-campus experience. Most solutions are not holistic. Universities will need to learn which tools are feasible for their budgets and how to integrate those tools seamlessly into the IT environment.

Continual IT architecture improvement across all integrations is the key towards making this happen.

Digital Integration

Education is undergoing a massive transformation, with the use of technology becoming a key component in improving teaching and learning processes.
Many institutions have made significant investments in IT systems, but these systems are often siloed and do not cooperate or communicate with each other. This can lead to inefficiencies and redundancies across educational technology applications.

Technological efficiency relies on smooth integration, interoperability and coordination across all teaching and learning applications.
This is a growing challenge facing many institutions as IT systems become less monolithic and more disparate across varying products and services utilised.

Security

Education is changing rapidly. With the rise in online learning and digital communications, it is more important than ever to ensure that your institution's network security is up to date. Cyber Attacks within the sector are on the rise, with the sector experiencing a significant increase over the last couple of years. This poses a major challenge because of the time, money and resources required to enhance network security.

Aside from hackers accessing information for gain, The NCSC also warns of a growing threat from state-sponsored espionage that can damage value of research, notably in STEM subjects and reduce the appetite for further investment of universities that fall victim.

Distributed Networks and Legacy

Many universities have geographically displaced campus buildings and ensuring adequate connectivity, connections and management of multiple sites can be problematic. Add to this legacy and ageing equipment across campus and this can create challenges in the effective running of education tools and services. Whether adding new campus infrastructure or transitioning legacy technologies, Universities need support to guide and help them deliver the right solutions.