Cutting-edge AV solutions for modern universities

The evolution of audio-visual (AV) technology has been exponential across all educational sectors, with possibly the greatest transformation within higher education.

Universities are no longer just places of lectures and textbooks – they are rapidly evolving into dynamic environments where learning, collaboration and technology converge. Yet, along with this evolution comes a set of real challenges that universities face daily: budget constraints, disjointed legacy systems and the demand for flexibility in teaching methods.

At Symity, we don’t just have experience delivering AV and UC solutions – we also have a team highly experienced in helping universities overcome these challenges with tailored, integrated solutions that are future-proof, flexible and designed to get the most out of your current infrastructure.

Even as recently as the early 2010s, classrooms were equipped with just basic AV equipment – overhead projectors, pull-down screens and rudimentary sound systems. While functional, they did little to truly transform how education was delivered.

Fast forward to around 2015 and some universities began experimenting with active blended learning and the flipped classroom approach, where students would engage with materials digitally both inside and outside the classroom.

Institutions were under increasing pressure to shift from traditional to digital learning environments, largely driven by the need to improve teaching quality, student engagement and student satisfaction. This was the first-hand experience of Andrew Taylor, now working for Symity, who found himself working in the IT department for the University of Northampton. He was required to bring AV services in line with modern IT infrastructure. This was the approach taken:

As pioneers in the AV world of higher education, the university was determined to change how teaching was delivered, aiming to be the first in the UK to go fully digital. Andrew worked on the Waterside project – the building of a new, centralised campus in Northampton’s Waterside district. This project presented the opportunity to completely rethink how to best serve their students, resulting in a radically different approach that eschewed traditional lecture halls in favour of flexible, collaborative learning spaces.

Andrew worked alongside Giles Skiba, Robin Oliveira, and Nick Martin – now also Symity employees – to make this transformation happen, implementing a cutting-edge AV solution that integrated AV with the existing Microsoft infrastructure. This wasn’t just about throwing new technology into classrooms – it was about creating a collaborative, connected environment that worked for students on-campus, off-campus and even in different countries.

Through the fantastic work of Andrew and the VC Integration Team, the University of Northampton is now equipped with fully digital teaching spaces, with a forward-thinking AV system that later proved essential during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The investment in the right AV and collaboration tools and infrastructure meant that when lockdowns hit in 2020, they were already prepared and could transition to online learning seamlessly, thanks to the groundwork laid years before.

This project went on to win the Education Project of the Year at the AV Awards, a global recognition of how impactful the right AV solution can be when implemented correctly.

Andrew has since then implemented similar digital transformation projects at other universities. As Andrew and the above mentioned colleagues have moved to work for Symity, Symity can bring this experience to every university we work with.

Implementing AV solutions in universities isn’t without its challenges, with some core problems emerging time and time again:

• Disjointed systems: Many universities operate with isolated systems – IT, AV, and learning platforms often function separately, all of which can be inefficient. User experiences become fragmented and resources wasted.
• Budget constraints: Universities, especially mid-tier institutions, are constantly under financial pressure. While university fees are capped, the costs of delivering cutting-edge education keep rising. Institutions are expected to deliver more with less, making it difficult to justify high upfront costs for technology upgrades.
• Unique needs across departments: Universities aren’t one-size-fits-all – they bring together a number of different disciplines within one umbrella. A School of Arts, for example, has different AV needs to a Business School or Science and Engineering Department. Arts students need high-resolution displays and specialised tools for creative work, while business students might need robust video conferencing setups. Balancing these varied requirements while maintaining standardisation is a common struggle.
• User adoption: The biggest barrier to success is often people. Even with the best technology in place, it’s worthless if lecturers, students and staff don’t know how to use it effectively. Without proper training, technology investments simply don’t deliver the desired results.

At Symity, we understand that the challenges facing universities are not just technical but also deeply tied to budget, user experience, and long-term outcomes. Our approach is different because we offer more than just an AV solution – we deliver a comprehensive, personalised service that tackles these issues – and more – directly.

• Seamless integration with existing infrastructure: Universities can’t afford to rip out their current systems and start over. Symity’s solutions are built to work with your existing infrastructure, especially leveraging the power of Microsoft Teams and the wider Microsoft 365 ecosystem. This means your AV systems don’t operate in isolation but are part of a unified, cohesive environment where students and staff can collaborate easily, whether in person or remotely. By connecting AV with existing IT systems, we help universities eliminate inefficiencies and make better use of what they already have.
• Tailored solutions for diverse needs: We know that each department within a university has unique requirements. That’s why we don’t deliver cookie-cutter solutions. Instead, we work with each faculty to identify their specific needs and provide customisable AV setups that suit their teaching styles and workflows, while still maintaining a level of standardisation across the institution for easy maintenance and scalability.
• Maximising return on investment (ROI) and doing more with less: The financial pressures that universities face are increasing and budgets are tight. That is why maximising ROI is at the core of our approach. By working with existing technology and using the Microsoft 365 stack, we help universities get more out of their current systems while introducing new AV tools strategically. For example, when we helped the University of Northampton transition to a fully digital model, we ensured that every piece of technology could grow with the university’s needs, supporting not just today’s students but their future cohorts too. With university fees not increasing, institutions are forced to innovate on a limited budget. Symity helps by offering solutions that deliver long-term value, stretching every pound spent on AV to ensure it benefits both teaching and learning long into the future.
• Proactive user training and support: Our work doesn’t stop after the AV systems are installed. At Symity, we offer comprehensive training to ensure lecturers, students, and support staff are confident in using the technology. We also offer ongoing support, meaning that as needs evolve, Symity is there to provide guidance, troubleshoot problems, and ensure your AV systems continue to run smoothly. We make sure that universities are not just technically prepared but also equipped to train staff and students on how to use the tools effectively. Without this, even the best technology will be underutilised.
• Preparing for the future with long-term strategies: Universities are always planning ahead. They typically work on five-year cycles, mandated by government blueprints that lay out their goals for education, research and technology. Symity’s approach is perfectly aligned with these long-term strategies. We help institutions plan their AV solutions to not only meet today’s needs but also anticipate future challenges. We look at how to integrate remote learning capabilities that allow universities to attract international students without needing them physically on campus, helping institutions like the University of Northampton continue to thrive even when student numbers fluctuated during the pandemic. This not only saves on costs but also helps universities stay competitive and flexible.

Symity isn’t your typical AV integrator. We understand the full picture and the project lifecycle of an educational setting from the University Blueprint, project inception, deployment, to full operational support. Our expertise lies in video collaboration, Microsoft Teams, and the Microsoft 365 stack.

Contact the Education Team at Symity to find out how we can help you stay ahead of the game.