Lightware powers hybrid learning at Centria University of Finland

This educational center has adopted a technological standard based on the Taurus UCX-4 solution×3-HC40-BD de Lightware to unify classroom devices and provide a more seamless experience for both teachers and students.

Located in Kokkola town, the Centria University of Applied Sciences offers higher education in five fields: engineering, business, health and social care, humanities and culture. With degrees taught in both Finnish and English, has a diverse mix of international students and offers remote and flexible learning options.

In recent years, The internal IT department has developed a cross-university initiative to update its educational environments to better support hybrid teaching and learning.

Led by Centria's education and AV specialist, Janne Torvikoski, The university has adopted a technological standard based on the solution Taurus UCX-4×3-HC40-BD de Lightware to unify classroom devices and provide a more seamless experience for teachers and students alike.

“Through interviews with our faculty, It became evident that the lack of permanent hybrid devices, like microphones and cameras, and the need to configure classroom peripherals for each class, They were a great waste of time for teachers and caused them stress. “We needed to rethink our classrooms and develop a more intuitive solution”, explains Torvikoski.

Most teachers prefer to use their own laptop instead of the classroom PC, which has also influenced the new audiovisual design of the classroom. The Taurus UCX-4×3-HC40-BD offers plug-and-play connectivity for new permanent classroom devices, carga USB-C fiable, Integration with any type of laptop (Mac o Windows) and the ability to configure a custom welcome screen.

The overall classroom configuration is based on a single Taurus UCX-4 unit×3-HC40-BD, with HDMI output to the teacher's local monitor on the desk. This same output is also sent to the room projector using HDBaseT transmitters, some of which are also from Lightware.

When the teacher connects his laptop using the full Lightware USB-C cable, Screen and audio automatically connect to devices in the room, while providing reliable charging. As it does not have an interface or touch panel, Additional interaction points and potential confusion are eliminated. A personalized welcome screen shows instructions on how to start the hybrid class, further simplifying the process.

For the IT department, the advanced wing automation (LARA) and the smart device controller from Lightware have proven to be standout features of the Taurus UCX.

“We use LARA for programming, like night shutdown, automatic reboots and camera reset, plus Lightware Smart Device Driver for troubleshooting, systems monitoring and remote management. All of this, essential on our smaller campuses, where there is not always a member of the IT department present”, explains Torvikoski.

The Dante support of the Taurus UCX-4×3-HC40-BD also played an important role in the upgrade project. By facilitating bi-directional Dante functions, No external DSP or Dante adapter required to connect to room audio devices. Audio devices can also be selected during video calls, allowing teachers to select the correct sources during hybrid classes and avoid class delays.

Nails 40 classrooms have already installed this new technological standard, and the response has been very positive. Looking to the future, Centria is carrying out concept tests for its auditoriums, based on Taurus UCX-2 products×1-TPN-TX20 y UCX-4×3-TPN-TX20 de Lightware, in combination with extensores HDMI TPN and a switch Netgear M4350.

“The flexibility of Taurus TPN and an AV over IP network is key for this next phase of the project, since we want to build a system that is scalable to multiple areas”, affirms Torvikoski.

Centria classroom improvements have already resolved common challenges teachers face, creating a hybrid teaching experience, simplified and sophisticated. As the project expands to new areas of the Centria campus, Lightware solutions have proven to be a powerful tool for building a future-proof AV infrastructure that supports remote and in-person learners alike..