Technical prerequisites from the perspective of teachers and students

6. Quality internet network

Measures that could help teachers are:

• subsidising home internet connections (fixed and mobile internet) for teaching purposes
• access to secure and stable connections in faculty premises and teaching centres (wired connections, Wi-Fi 6)
• the ability to use VPN access for secure connection to the internal systems of a higher education institution
• priority access to technical support for solving connection problems in the context of online teaching.

Measures that could help students are:

• enabling student data packages in cooperation with telecom operators (as institutions did during the pandemic)
• access to Wi-Fi and computer labs in university premises, libraries and student dormitories
• opening access points (e.g. local communities, schools, cities) for learning in case of poor internet at home
• consulting on connection optimisation and configuration of home devices.

Work devices

When it comes to work devices, teachers can assist through the procurement and distribution of laptops, tablets and additional equipment (headphones, cameras, graphic tablets) using project or institutional funds. Technical assistance with device configuration and maintenance (program installation, security settings, updates) is also essential.

For the student population, the loan of old laptops owned by the HEI can be organised (if available and functional), and then devices can be provided for work as part of national or EU projects (e.g. equipping socially disadvantaged students) or by giving students access to computer labs with extended working hours.