HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht prepares students for the future with our touchscreens
Some partnerships are meant to last. Since 2018, we have been working closely with Hogeschool Utrecht (HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht) to make sure teachers and students have consistent learning tools they can use with ease; today, tomorrow and for many years to come.
Hogeschool Utrecht’s main campus is located in Utrecht Science Park, with five education and research buildings serving 35,000 students and 3,500 staff members. For the IT department, it is essential that teachers and students can rely on education technology that works flawlessly.
In 2018, Hogeschool Utrecht chose our touchscreens on the recommendation of their trusted AV partner, Heuvelman Sound & Vision. They selected Laser Sky for its excellent sound quality and the availability of different screen sizes with exactly the same user interface. Security features such as disabling internet access and setting a PIN code also played a key role in the decision. Laser Sky replaced their non-interactive presentation screens in more than 500 classrooms.
“How great is it that with i3CONNECT, we can standardise all touchscreen functionality to create uniformity and ease of use across all our classrooms?” - Peter de Zeeuw, IT Administrator AV resources at Hogeschool Utrecht
Standardisation became the key for Hogeschool Utrecht to make its learning environment future-proof. Every four to seven years, the AV equipment is renewed. In practice, this means that each year, 100 of the 700 classrooms are upgraded with the latest AV technology.
This led to the introduction of the next generation of touchscreens: Riva. User-friendly Riva, with its JBL speakers, great writing experience and wireless sharing, was a welcome addition to the classrooms. For the following generation, Hogeschool Utrecht chose Riva R2, which further improved the Riva user experience while keeping all the familiar features. Thanks to that consistency, there were no transition issues during the renewal cycles.
There are also plans to install the Android Upgrade Module on compatible models. This module brings the same interface and user experience as Riva R2 to earlier models. Over time, the goal is also to move to the i3CONNECT Studio experience and i3CONNECT Cortex for remote management. This will create one consistent user experience across all classrooms.
Digital together, ready for the future
Thanks to close collaboration between everyone involved, Hogeschool Utrecht now has a stable and consistent AV environment that is built for the future. Teachers and students benefit every day from reliable, intuitive technology, while the IT department enjoys simpler management and maintenance. By choosing standardisation and innovation, Hogeschool Utrecht is staying prepared not only for today’s education needs, but for tomorrow’s too.