Smart digital learning environment at one of Europe’s oldest universities

With twelve Nobel Prize winners, 147 Masters programmes, 35,000 students and over 650 professors, Utrecht University boasts some impressive figures. Yet it is the university's attitude, rather than metrics, that catches the eye.

该大学正在朝着一个更好的世界努力，“通过研究学科边界以外的复杂问题”。通过使思想家与行动者接触，以便可以应用新的见解，它为学生提供了发展的空间。该大学的使命声明说：“我们的毕业生具有为社会做出重大贡献的知识和技能。我们的研究是开创性的，并专注于解决主要的全球问题。”“我们的协作文化促进了创新，新的见解和社会影响。”

For a seat of learning founded in 1636, and tucked away in the Netherlands' fourth largest city, it is impressively global, modern and ambitious in its outlook.

“我们已经在35000年代tudents and 7,400 employees connected to our network at any one time," says Peter Hasperhoven, Product Manager Networks, Utrecht University.

确保强大的，可访问的网络

"A university without a network is unthinkable. It's like a city without roads," says Peter Hasperhoven, Product Manager Networks, Utrecht University. "What has changed in recent years is the network utilisation, both in terms of users and traffic, and the importance of security."

Utrecht University is one of the best universities in the Netherlands and a magnet for international students. It is one of Europe's leading research universities. The network needs to be robust, secure and accessible to a range of users.

Hasperhoven说：“我们希望消除单个失败点，无法忍受网络停机时间。”“我们一次有大约35,000名学生和7,400名员工连接到我们的网络。此外，我们在夏季提供Eduroam访问和支持客人。”

使城市成为校园

As a public sector organisation, Utrecht University must avoid locking in with one vendor. However, it has been an Aruba customer for many years. The university has built a network almost3,100 Aruba统一访问点，包括Wi-Fi 6在整个校园中，包括市中心的旧建筑以及乌得勒支科学公园郊区的现代，专门建造的设施。访问点通过five Aruba 7240 Mobility Controllers, orchestrated by a virtual Mobility Conductor.

In addition, the campus LAN architecture is comprised ofover 330 Aruba Access Switches. The Core and Distribution layers are currently supported by HPE FlexFabric platforms, providing Layer 3 and critical MPLS services.

Aruba Clearpass政策经理, with 25,000 endpoints, manages role-based network access control including access to eduroam while阿鲁巴空军网络管理ensures granular visibility over the huge estate.

该大学已经建立了一个网络...在整个校园中，包括市中心的旧建筑以及乌得勒支科学园区郊区的现代，专门建造的设施。

今天的表演和明天的平台

这阿鲁巴边缘服务平台(ESP) leaves Utrecht University with a high-performing network that is easy to manage and scale. Every student, employee and visitor is rooted off Aruba ClearPass and Aruba AirWave ensures Peter Hasperhoven has full visibility and network oversight. It delivers a robust network today and an innovation platform for tomorrow.

快速增长的AP和LAN的优化使大学能够优化整个校园的移动体验。随着这一步伐，LAN的使用将被保留在特定的研究或类似需求中。升级到Aruba开关预计将产生节省在17％左右的能源。

此外，大学期望将更多的物联网设备（IoT）设备添加到网络中，包括建筑管理系统，传感器和许多研究项目团队的设备。Aruba Clearpass Device Insight将使发现，分析，安全入职和监视这些IoT设备在UTRECHT网络上的连接成为可能。

Covid-19已极大地影响了大学生活的各个方面。在学生和老师的紧密靠近的环境中，必须在线转移。

Functioning Effectively During a Challenging 2020

Covid-19已极大地影响了大学生活的各个方面。在学生和老师的紧密靠近的环境中，必须在线转移。乌得勒支大学（Utrecht University）在信息和技术服务中董事总经理/IT基础设施董事总经理/负责人Carol van der Palen表示，该大学已证明它可以在这个新世界中有效地发挥作用。

他说：“研究团队已经可以访问实验室数据，课程已经在网上移动。”“我们有学生在中国居住时参加课堂和完成课程。”

This, he adds, should not be considered the new normal. While delighted the network has helped Utrecht through a challenging year, the focus should always be on human engagement and a physical learning experience.

“显然，通过远程虚拟学习在国际上扩展我们的覆盖范围是有好处的，但是我们希望学生体验乌得勒支之城并享受现场教育。但是，越来越多的高等教育混合模型无疑会成为新规范，范德·帕伦（Van der Palen）说：“在体育和虚拟教育之间取得了良好的平衡。

大学计划扩展数字和移动接触点以支持学生体验。

扩展活动能力以提升学生体验

大学计划扩展数字和移动接触点以支持学生体验。It has Microsoft Teams as an option for all staff and students, and it is developing its own myUU app. The app contains students' individual timetables and exam grades. The plan is to make it easier for students to meet and work together.

"Students may reserve a study space or university facility," says Van der Palen. "Creating 'smart' buildings should allow us to optimise occupancy rates, control energy use and better understand how and when buildings are being used."

Longer term, it may extend the mobile experience to include exams, with digital exams using the students' own device.

As collaboration becomes easier and the need for common workspaces becomes greater, Utrecht University expects this will influence the design of buildings. As teaching and learning become more flexible, the university has a network that can support flexibility.

Ultimately, says Van der Palen, this will be a better place to meet and work, which will elevate the university's reputation and help attract more students, visitors, researchers and summer school guests.