The University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) and Cisco are collaborating to transform education and lay the foundation for hybrid learning experiences in Thailand.
The UTCC campus is being equipped with Cisco Webex Boards, allowing teachers and students to teach and learn wireless and annotate shared content. The Boards also provide video and audio conference capabilities. This encourages students and educators to meet, create, communicate and share resources inside and outside the classroom anytime, on any device.
To provide a seamless and secure digital experience for users, UTCC, whose campus caters to over 18,000 students and 1,000 faculty staff, is also adopting a secure wireless infrastructure with Cisco Connected Mobile Experience (CMX). This will have 800 access points capable of handling more than 15,000 devices and managing the internet traffic in the university.
The UTCC has also created a mobile app, USpark, for students to avail of Cisco CMX technology. The app helps the university engage with students on a more personal level. Students can be sent customised messages based on their interests and individual courses. They can also use the app to access a range of resources, including curricula, tutoring lessons and research, and even take exams using their tablet devices. Cisco Webex helps streamline administrative processes, simplify lessons, plan schedules and manage students' records.
Porames Songsaengterm, vice-president for Information Technology at the university, said UTCC is now a digital university, which aims to provide a fully interactive experience to students and staff across virtual and physical learning spaces. Educators, students and administrators can collaborate and share resources with ease and develop closer relationships.
In addition to the Boards, the university has also implemented security solutions for email and intrusion prevention to safeguard against cybersecurity threats. Cisco's next-generation intrusion prevention system provides visibility and protection across the UTCC's extended network.
Vatsun Thirapatarapong, managing director of Thailand and Indochina at Cisco, said: "Educational institutions are realising that technology can play a crucial role in making learning more accessible and flexible. Collaboration technology can especially help students and teachers connect, whether for group projects, online lectures and coursework, or spontaneous ad hoc sessions at their own convenience, from anywhere and using any device."
Suriya Famontree, a fourth-year student, said the collaborative technology not only brings flexible learning from anywhere on any device, but also makes it a more fun experience. "We can connect with friends who can't attend class for whatever reason. We're still able to get in touch with them. This hybrid learning also empowers us to develop new ideas and spurs our creativity even when we're out of the classroom."
Onnicha Sakulkoo, a third-year student, said she does not need to worry if she has to miss class, as she can still catch up on the lessons with teachers and friends wherever she is on any device. "I can communicate, share ideas or brainstorm just like in class, plus I can repeat the lessons as many times as I want. This hybrid learning experience perfectly fits with our next-generation lifestyle and makes our digital learning experiences more compelling when combined with traditional learning."
