submarine_heroImage_large

NEC Display Solutions customer installation – Education

University of the West of Scotland

The future of learning

Representing a shift in the way learning and teaching is defined in the higher education sector, the brand-new ultra-modern UWS campus in Lanarkshire offers a truly innovative, dynamic and collaborative student experience. NEC large format displays, video walls and projection technology support huddle spaces, classrooms, lecture theatres and social areas across the entire campus.

The new £110m campus embodies the UWS vision to provide 21st century, student-centred, personalised, distinctive learning and teaching experiences. UWS prides itself on producing work-ready graduates, well prepared for the world of commerce and the new Lanarkshire campus is purposely located within one of Scotland’s most successful business parks, Hamilton International Technology Park. Mutual benefit is gained through collaboration between academia and business with practical opportunities for students to gain experience whilst businesses are invited to access the university’s first class facilities including auditorium, boardroom and conferencing space.

With 24/7/365 access to online resources and services right from the outset, the Lanarkshire campus was destined to push boundaries with state of the art technology. Having previously supplied AV solutions across other UWS sites, integration specialist Visavvi, part of the Saville Group, was commissioned to manage AV deployment using visual technology from NEC.

The NEC Solution

Sixty-five innovative learning suites provide high-tech, flexible and collaborative spaces to deliver teaching in a powerfully effective and modern way. The spaces have been specifically designed to equip students with the skills most valued by industry, including collaboration, creativity and communication, thus putting them at a significant advantage as they embark on their chosen careers.

UniversityOfTheWestOfScotland-Detail3

“We have installed a mix of interactive and none interactive classrooms and break out areas equipped with multi-screen NEC UHD LFDs or laser projection offering a range of facilities to choose from,” says Colin Firth, account manager at Visavvi. “Within each classroom, the tutor can control the in-room system and each group of students can select which source is displayed on their NEC display via a Crestron control panel. The systems are linked via Crestron Fusion for room management capabilities.”

UniversityOfTheWestOfScotland-Detail4

A large lecture theatre features dual laser projection and a 32 seat board room benefits from two adjacent 84” Ultra High Definition NEC displays in landscape format to deliver richly detailed content. “There was no compromise on the quality of equipment,” continues Firth, “NEC was able to supply LCD screens with 4K UHD resolution and laser projection providing a high performance solution to support proximity viewing.”

The three campus buildings are joined by ‘The Street’, a bright and airy work and social space including reception, a Street Café, information points and areas to sit and study or socialize. Other social areas include the library and a state of the art gym. Providing student outreach and linking all these spaces through digital signage, a network of NEC displays and a vast 24 screen video wall receive updated content via the university’s central CMS server.


The Result

With its technology-rich, innovative learning and social spaces, UWS Lanarkshire campus is at the forefront of modern learning environments.

UniversityOfTheWestOfScotland-Detail1

“We have invested in inspiring and flexible learning and teaching spaces packed with rich technology to give staff and students access to some of the most modern university facilities in the UK,” says David Johnston, assistant director of ICT at UWS. “The campus has been designed to immerse students and staff in the educational experience, students at the campus will enjoy a significantly enriched learning journey.”

The project was delivered on time and on budget despite additional rooms being incorporated. David Johnston confirms: “We have an ongoing partnership with Visavvi who have delivered our vision across many of our sites using NEC display technology. Reliability and support is of vital importance to our reputation as an innovative 21st century university.”