Cisco Cisco Unified Contact Center Express 9.0(2) Information Guide
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Challenge
Universities in England are used to doing more with less. Under the Browne Review
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,
they are having to come to terms with funding reforms on a large scale. These wide-
ranging changes propose a shift in England’s higher education system, away from one
largely funded by the taxpayer to one that is mainly financed privately by graduates
from their future earnings. The move is expected to present universities with a new
set of balance sheet challenges, as budget cuts and fee increases put pressure on
demand for courses, and academic results and student relationships take on even
greater importance.
ranging changes propose a shift in England’s higher education system, away from one
largely funded by the taxpayer to one that is mainly financed privately by graduates
from their future earnings. The move is expected to present universities with a new
set of balance sheet challenges, as budget cuts and fee increases put pressure on
demand for courses, and academic results and student relationships take on even
greater importance.
One forward-thinking institution is in good shape to make this transition, having
decided several years ago to develop a cohesive, technology-enabled vision and
lay the foundations for a radical new business model.
decided several years ago to develop a cohesive, technology-enabled vision and
lay the foundations for a radical new business model.
“It’s no longer simply about gaining incremental economies of scale, or trimming
out bits of inefficiency and waste,” says Trevor Nicholls, pro vice chancellor at
Buckinghamshire New University. “Most universities have been doing that for
sometime. What we’re talking about here is completely rethinking and transforming
the way education is delivered in the future.”
out bits of inefficiency and waste,” says Trevor Nicholls, pro vice chancellor at
Buckinghamshire New University. “Most universities have been doing that for
sometime. What we’re talking about here is completely rethinking and transforming
the way education is delivered in the future.”
Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) is home to 600 staff and 9000 students, of
whom two-thirds are over the age of 21. Its academic structure is built around two
faculties: Design, Media and Management; and Society and Health. These faculties
are subdivided into a number of different schools.
whom two-thirds are over the age of 21. Its academic structure is built around two
faculties: Design, Media and Management; and Society and Health. These faculties
are subdivided into a number of different schools.
BNU set out to improve student experience and support, while sharpening its
competitive edge through the early adoption of IT best practice and industry-leading
solutions. Top priorities included finding new ways to tighten cost control and
grow income from international recruitment, research activities, and commercial
partnerships. As well as making better use of educational resources, the university
also wanted to address other campus-wide issues, such as space management,
carbon reduction, and safety and security.
competitive edge through the early adoption of IT best practice and industry-leading
solutions. Top priorities included finding new ways to tighten cost control and
grow income from international recruitment, research activities, and commercial
partnerships. As well as making better use of educational resources, the university
also wanted to address other campus-wide issues, such as space management,
carbon reduction, and safety and security.
This multifaceted strategy was underpinned by one common theme: creating a highly
connected and collaborative environment that would enrich teaching and learning.
connected and collaborative environment that would enrich teaching and learning.
Customer Case Study
© 2011 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
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Customer Name:
Buckinghamshire
New University
Industry:
Higher Education
Location:
UK
Number of employees:
600 staff and
9000 students
Challenge
• Deliver cohesive, information and
communications (ICT)-enabled vision
for improving academic excellence and
introducing new ways of learning
for improving academic excellence and
introducing new ways of learning
Solution
• Cisco Collaboration Architecture, enabling
anytime, anywhere access to people,
tools, and information
tools, and information
• Cisco voice and Unified Communications
applications, introducing new voice,
mobility, interactive conferencing, and
multimedia capabilities
mobility, interactive conferencing, and
multimedia capabilities
Results
• Building services around learners, and
unburdening lecturers to teach
• Enriching education, and making it more
accessible to increasingly mobile students
• Saving time, cost, and energy to reinvest
at the front line
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.
Also known as the