Chris Harrison, Deputy Director of Campus Services at the University of Leicester, shares why super-fast broadband connectivity matters, and the importance of continual improvement.
The Client
Ranked in the top 100 of the world’s most international universities by Times Higher Education, The University of Leicester serves over 28,000 students each year. Maintaining and improving on this position is a multi-faceted task in an increasingly competitive sector.
“Students choosing the University of Leicester today have very different expectations compared to five years ago when the £9,000 tuition fees were just being introduced. Prospective students now attend numerous Open Days and pay much more attention to accommodation, which can be a decisive factor when choosing between two or more similar universities.”
“Leicester, like every University in the UK, is facing increased pressure to provide an excellent student experience in accommodation. There has also been a significant increase in purpose built student accommodation in the city, and we have had to adapt and to focus on what makes our accommodation special.”
“We know from our resident surveys that broadband is one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing accommodation. It influences how happy students are when they live with us. Having reliable and fast broadband and WiFi supports the student experience, and being able to advertise an ‘always on’ and reliable service with good download speeds helps us to attract students to our accommodation and keep occupancy levels high.”
The Partnership
Leicester has partnered with ASK4 since 2012 when it moved from an internally managed system to a bespoke Internet service provided and managed by ASK4.
Speaking of the partnership, ASK4 Client Services Manager, Adam Newton, commented:
“We currently provide service to over 3,800 student beds at Leicester with exceptionally high user satisfaction and almost zero calls to our 24/7 technical support team. In 2016, ASK4 also provided a specialist smart TV network across a number of Leicester’s accommodation buildings and we continue to provide broadband and WiFi service to new rooms as their accommodation portfolio grows. Leicester is, without doubt, a forward thinking University. ”
Continual Improvement
The University has invested heavily in refurbishment projects over the last few years and the ASK4 partnership has played its part in making these projects a success. Chris continued:
“We are establishing a long term plan for the development of our residences, and with more refurbishment projects on the horizon, we see broadband and digital connectivity as an important part of future works. With the projects completed recently, Ask4 have always been flexible and quick to respond to our needs as our estate grows, meaning we were able to turn refurbishments around quickly, complete with broadband and WiFi connectivity ready for students from the moment they arrive.”
With an increasing number of UK students choosing to study in Leicester, and demand for student accommodation remaining high, continued investment is essential.
“We are confident that our investment in our estate, and our commitment to providing excellent services, will mean the University of Leicester remains the accommodation provider of choice for our students.”
