Speaker
Mr
Creswell Du Preez
(Nelson Mandela University)
Description
The university landscape in South Africa has significantly changed since the latter part of 2015. Never before has issues of sustainability been more prevalent and universities are, more than ever, exploring strategic partnerships in order to sustainably provide connected student spaces in support of its academic agenda. Through creative and opportune partnerships with the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole (NMBM) as well as Vodacom and MTN, the Nelson Mandela University was not only able to connect its satellite campuses with high-speed fibre, but also provide university connectivity from eleven public libraries across the metropole and the Nelson Mandela Bay World Cup Stadium. The new Wi-Fi hotspots within the NMBM libraries were set-up to be extensions of the Nelson Mandela University network and provides students with Wi-Fi services comparable to what they would receive through the campus computer labs. The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was connected to the university network within the span of one week and this connectivity, in conjunction with connectivity in public libraries, proved critical in salvaging the university’s 2016 academic year when its main campuses were closed due to student unrest.
HPC content
None
Primary author
Mr
Creswell Du Preez
(Nelson Mandela University)
