Is LoRaWAN the key to Higher Education's success?

Is LoRaWAN the key to Higher Education's success?

In areas dominated by small towns and farming, the ability to leverage innovative technologies is not always present. But for residents of Eastern North Carolina a different future is taking shape. As the region faces the multiple challenges of income inequality, elevated unemployment, and migration of youth to larger cities, a new and sustainable solution has emerged. One driven by a reliable and easy-to-deploy technology that can enable new opportunities for economic and educational development….

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E-rate Program Expanded, Plus Cisco Knowledge Hub Updates

E-rate Program Expanded, Plus Cisco Knowledge Hub Updates

On July 18th, 2024 the Federal Communications Commission approved a landmark decision by expanding the E-rate program to include off-premises use of Wi-Fi hotspots and wireless Internet services. This means that eligible schools and libraries can now receive support to provide Wi-Fi hotspots and wireless services to students, school staff, and library patrons outside of their premises. This program will have a three-year budget mechanism to ensure fair distribution of Wi-Fi hotspots and services. What…

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ESSER Funding: Top 3 Ways to Make it Work

ESSER Funding: Top 3 Ways to Make it Work

As we close in on the window for the third and final round of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Programs (ESSER) funds to be obligated, we wanted tc explore ways we have seen K-12 entities use these funds to keep their students, educators, and communities safe. Our ESSER top 3 tech plays ESSER III funds were intended to be used for “emergency relief funds to address the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had, and continues…

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Education 4.0: The Role of AI in Transforming Education

Education 4.0: The Role of AI in Transforming Education

UNESCO’s latest report finds many hurdles to better education worldwide. As we seek an Education 4.0 environment, can AI make a difference? In the spring of 2024 the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) published The Global Report on Teachers. The report revealed 44 million additional primary and secondary teachers are needed to meet UNESCO’s 2030 goals of achieving inclusive, equitable, and quality education for everyone worldwide. They also found that staffing shortages…

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The Student-Centric Experience: Leadership

The Student-Centric Experience: Leadership

New technologies are helping institutions create student-centric experiences that can improve retention, plus help promote their school’s brand in a positive way to attract new students (and even faculty). As we saw in part one of our two-part series, Biola University, a private Christian university in Southern California, recently teamed with Cisco to do just that. But it’s also important to take a leadership role to promote the opportunities that enable student success and, perhaps…

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Student-Centric Experience? What's That All About?

Student-Centric Experience? What's That All About?

As institutions of higher education seek ways to address student retention, they are increasingly turning to technologies that promise more of an “at home” experience, driving greater engagement and security for their users, while being simple and reliable to use. But often overlooked is the network behind it all. When Biola University, a private Christian university in Southern California, sought solutions, they reached out to their friends at Cisco. Today, in part one of our…

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E-Rate Update: $4.5 Billion for Discounts Available

E-Rate Update: .5 Billion for Discounts Available

E-rate, also known as the Schools and Libraries Program, is a federal program that provides discounts on services to ensure that schools and Libraries across the United States can receive affordable high-speed internet access to support online education and library services. E-rate helps bridge the funding gap to offset the costs of network upgrades and other telecommunication services. Who is eligible for E-rate funding? What services are covered? Schools, school districts, libraries, and library systems…

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New Cisco and Microsoft Partnership is Redefining Hybrid Work and Learning in Universities

New Cisco and Microsoft Partnership is Redefining Hybrid Work and Learning in Universities

The higher education sector has more to gain than most from a new global partnership between Cisco and Microsoft. The partnership – announced at Microsoft’s Ignite Conference at the end of 2022 – enables better interoperability between Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams technologies and will redefine how learning environments and meeting spaces are designed, deployed and managed across campuses. The partnership announcement has been welcomed by many university CIOs who have been grappling with integration…

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