Best in class AV upgrade provides extensive capabilities inside 400 seater multi purpose lecture theatre, with simplicity and flexibility making it child’s play to operate
The University of Surrey is a leading university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England, UK.
At the end of 2017, the university’s head of learning spaces technology Robert Purcell and his team underwent a replacement program for its 400-plus seat lecture theatre. The aim was to deploy a “simple” and “flexible” management solution, enabling for a fast and reliable set up between lectures and enhancing the learning experience for students. The university also wanted to enhance and improve its capabilities when hosting other uses of the venue, such as cinema nights, corporate events and high profile talks, which have included Brian Blessed, Richard Attenborough and Super Vet Noel Fitzpatrick amongst others.
The Crestron system helps with the learning experience because I can walk into a lecture theatre and be confident that it will work
Working in close consultation with its staff and with consultancy firm Coleman Bennett International (CBI), the university opted for Crestron’s range of digital media products working closely with the manufacturer throughout the installation and training of 120 members of staff.
The system allows tutors one button functionality for activation of typical student learning equipment found inside a lecture theatre, such as displays, projectors, visualisers and lighting. Presets also provide tutors and other event staff the ability to automatically adjust the room conditions to meet their requirement needs.
Student expectations are constantly increasing and they expect to go into the theatre and have the tutor be up and running and delivering to them in a short space of time
The aims were to make the system as simple to use as possible for our academics
Alfred Thumser, senior lecturer in biochemistry at the University of Surrey commented: “I have 10 minutes between lectures and it takes me five minutes to set up. It’s extremely simple. The Crestron system helps with the learning experience because I can walk into a lecture theatre and be confident that it will work. If I start a lecture 10 minutes late, it influences your confidence and also the students’ confidence that you will be able to deliver the lecture.”
Robert Purcell, head of learning spaces technology, University of Surrey added “Student expectations are constantly increasing and they expect to go into the theatre and have the tutor be up and running and delivering to them in a short space of time. They want high quality imaging and want to hear everything clearly. We have to meet those rising expectations. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Marc Poffley, business development manager, education at Crestron EMEA said: “Within the education sphere, Crestron are current in approximately 65 per cent of the top universities in the UK and we’re hoping to push beyond that. The solutions we provide have to be very simplistic.”
