The full impact of COVID-19 on higher education is still unknown. One thing is for certain: The fallout from this pandemic will have a lasting impact on the way teaching is delivered and will also require significant changes to the end-to-end operating models of higher education institutions.
One of these changes will be the ability to deliver both campus-based and remote-based learning from the same IT infrastructure.
While some institutions have managed to offer final year undergraduate and postgraduate students virtual learning facilities, these solutions are widely accepted within the higher education sector as being tactical, built on limited IT infrastructure, and missing many core elements.
The estimated reduction in the number of students attending school on campus in 2020-21 has highlighted the urgency with which higher education institutions need to transition quickly from a traditional campus-based model to a remote-ready model and put in place a long-term digital learning strategy. Higher education institutions are reviewing expenditures, identifying efficiencies, and ensuring they have the capability to continue to deliver value across their offerings. Investing in remote-enabled digital learning platforms will be crucial.
Traditional classrooms will not suddenly cease to exist! There will always be a need for and a desire by students to be in classrooms and laboratories. However, the requirement for students to be physically on-campus will need to be rethought for higher education institutions to continue to offer learning experiences in a world where student numbers will be limited through restrictions on travel and proximity.
One of the most significant transformations will be at the endpoint. With a switch of reliance from traditional, managed physical desktops in a classroom setting, forward looking HE institutions will move to more agile BYOD / CYOD options for remote learning and the adoption of cost-effective thin client devices on campus.
The reason for the switch away from traditionally managed physical desktops will help drive the following outcomes (in no particular order):
- Improve student learning experience
- Improve student, faculty and admin staff accessibility
- Provide a world-class remote and distance-learning experience
- Improve business continuity
- Increase security and reduce the attack surface
- Reduce capital and operational expenditure
- Reduce IT management complexity
- Re-purpose or even relinquish existing real estate
- Increase sustainability credentials
Citrix and Microsoft technologies can help higher education institutions to create a secure and remote-ready campus that provides flexible IT and a seamless experience for students, faculty and staff, ensuring data security, protecting the university’s reputation, and increasing both student attraction and student retention.
Check out our whitepaper and Infographic to learn how Citrix and Microsoft technologies can assist higher education institutions with the transition from a campus-based model to a remote-ready model.
Download the whitepaper today.
