The University of Bristol, working alongside Xtravirt and Omnissa, set out to transform its digital workspace and redefine what was possible. Read on to discover how this collaboration served the delivery of that shared objective….
As a core component of its Digital Strategy, the University of Bristol wanted to redefine how teaching and research could be delivered and consumed. The goal was clear: to create a university experience that was truly boundaryless, and put equity, flexibility and academic excellence on equal footing.
The ambition was to redefine how teaching and research could be delivered and consumed
Achieving this goal meant moving away from fragmented legacy systems and solutions and focussing on a single, unified environment that could scale with demand and enable secure, high-performance access to computing resources for every student and researcher. The challenge was not just technical. It was strategic, cultural and deeply human.
Understanding the ambition
At the heart of the University’s digital strategy is a belief that every student, no matter their background, location or device, should have the same access to learning. This meant enhancing user experience, simplifying access, increasing available capacity and, in parallel, increasing the flexibility of lab environments.
Every student - no matter their background, location or device - should have the same access to learning
The University sought a virtual desktop solution that would supplement and unify existing desktop and infrastructure services. Xtravirt’s Strategy & Advisory team worked with the University’s internal IT team exploring more than 20 potential use cases. Interviews and workshops were carried out with teaching leads, academics and tutors to build a common understanding of course delivery, the student and academic work friction points, and opportunities to increase efficiencies.
One area that merited further attention was reducing the amount of equipment required by researchers when working remotely in the field and the seamless delivery of learning to international students. Working together, we helped the University prioritise where early wins could be made, particularly the areas where change would have immediate impact and generate momentum for broader adoption.
Phased delivery, lasting impact
With the opportunity and business case secured, Omnissa Horizon® was selected to deliver virtual desktops and applications across hybrid cloud environments and maximise the users’ digital experience. From day one, the rollout of the initial use cases was achieved through joint delivery. Following the delivery phase, Xtravirt continued to work closely with the University teams to ensure a smooth transition and successful adoption of the new solution. This included providing early-life support to optimise platform performance, swiftly address any initial issues, and incorporate early user feedback into ongoing improvements.
GPU capacity added to the University’s private cloud extended the power of the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) enabling performant and equitable access to complex applications, without being limited by the user’s device. Central management, image control and governed maintenance quickly evidenced the needed efficiencies.
Users weren’t just onboarded but were supported and listened to
Digital equity and expanding demand
With GPU enabled desktops, students have more equitable access to high power IT capability than ever before. Some of the earliest adopters of the new capability were engineering students, some of whom have reduced the work time spent on complex rendering by 75%. This clearly demonstrated the benefits of delivering services securely on a student device in a consistent and controlled way.
Witnessing this level of excitement about the adoption of a new technology and seeing the human impact make this project one of Xtravirt’s most rewarding to date.
A model for others to follow
The University reinvents itself every year with new courses, new research grants, new demands and, of course, new students. Its ability to adapt is core to its mission. That’s why a digital foundation that engages the users and delivers tangible services is so meaningful.
This is an evolving platform, built to support change. New demands will continue to flow as the academic and research communities identify more opportunities to collaborate, and new courses will need to be delivered that have not yet been conceived – the platform is ready because it was built with the future in mind.
The platform is ready because it was built with the future in mind
Final thoughts
At Xtravirt, we often engage with customers to find that while they have cutting edge technology installed, it holds no alignment to the business strategy and goals. The University of Bristol project is a reminder that the best strategies aren’t driven by cool software or procurement cycles. They’re led by people who clearly understand their ambition and goals, have engaged their stakeholders on the journey and are ready to build from the inside out. That’s what makes this partnership special. And why, at Xtravirt, we’re proud to have played a part.
Want to see how Xtravirt can help your organisation modernise infrastructure and scale smarter? Get in touch for a personalised consultation.
