Capital Normal University

University Revamps Network to Boost Digital Learning

In higher education, a modern campus is synonymous with a smart campus. This means technology is woven into the fabric of learning, on-campus living, sports and more. The smart campus connects not only students, but also faculty and administration. In fact, technology within a smart campus infrastructure should enable connections that match a school’s academic vision, now and in the future.

That’s certainly the case with Capital Normal University (CNU), one of the most highly regarded public universities in Beijing. Since its founding in 1954, CNU has expanded to meet the educational needs of China’s bustling capital. This expansion includes new programs, buildings and even campuses. CNU has 27 colleges and departments and offers over 50 majors. Over 30,000 students, including undergraduates, graduates and adult education students, attend annually. The university has six campuses, most of them located in downtown Beijing.

The sheer size of CNU, coupled with its forward-looking educational programs—presented significant challenges for its existing network infrastructure, according to Hu Yingbin, director of the Digital Campus Construction Center. “As part of our IT development plan, our goal was to create a fast, efficient and secure network infrastructure. In particular, we wanted seamless wireless coverage, enabling students and faculty to easily access digital applications anytime, from any personal device.”