Digital transformation in higher education

Is your university tackling digital transformation in higher education?

If yes, you might be assessing your current digital infrastructure. Or deciding what network solutions you need to deliver seamless connectivity and an enhanced student experience.

Reaching a high level of digital maturity doesn’t happen overnight. But deploying secure network architecture can be a good start. It gives you the foundation to create agile, scalable systems that support hybrid learning, future smart campus initiatives, and collaboration tools.

So, what can these technologies do for your university? And how can you start your transformation to delivering a connected campus?

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What does digital transformation
mean for universities?

Digital transformation is a broad term. That can make it difficult to pin down what it actually means, what actions you need to take, and where you need to start.

For universities, digital transformation means increasing technologies and device usage within teaching methods, research projects, and admin tasks. The goal should be to enhance student and staff experiences, maximise learning opportunities, and create more effective processes.

However, achieving these results relies on thought-out tech deployment backed by a solid, long-term strategy. This is what makes digital transformation such a huge task because digital teams need to:

Create a culture that’s supportive of changes to current processes.
Build infrastructure that allows data to feed into your new systems.
Place connectivity centrally within your university so your new apps and devices work effectively.

What is the Jisc framework for digital transformation in higher education?

The Jisc framework is a useful guide to starting digital transformation. Jisc is a not-for-profit organisation that publishes best practice resources to develop a shared understanding in the education sector.

Its framework covers everything from cultural shift and strategic vision, to creating structure in your transformation.

The Jisc framework defines six key pillars to focus on:

Coordination and leadership
Connectivity and infrastructure
Cost and sustainability
Capacity and culture
Content and solutions
Data and evidence

Did you know Block is a Jisc-approved provider? If you choose to use this framework, our engineers can work with you to make this happen.

Find out more

Shot of a mature businessman using a digital tablet during a meeting in a modern office.

Examples of digital transformation
in higher education

Queen Mary University of London recently completed a major network refresh as part of its digital transformation. The network had become outdated which was causing frustrating connectivity issues. This wouldn’t have been able to support the university’s vision to build a smart campus in the future.

In 2024, Queen Mary deployed Wi-Fi-6E and Juniper Mist AI across 65 buildings. Critical work took place in a small eight week window of the summer holidays. The new high-speed coverage creates a ‘home-from-home’ experience in student halls. It also supports over 1000 devices in densely populated lecture halls and safeguards research within its highly secure labs.

Meanwhile, Juniper’s Virtual Network Assistant, Marvis, troubleshoots network issues twice as fast. This has vastly reduced day-to-day complaints to the help desk. These results have laid the foundations needed for Queen Mary to now focus on more innovative work in the smart campus space.

“This upgrade paves the way for smarter campuses with asset tracking, energy management, and enhanced security,” confirms Shahid Rashid, Assistant Director at Queen Mary University of London.

View the full project timeline

What campus Wi-Fi solutions are out there?

Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi 7 can all provide connectivity to higher education. What’s best for your university will depend on your goals, budget, and current challenges.

Start by performing a predictive Wi-Fi survey which uses data modelling to map signal strength and occupancy across every building. You’ll be able to see where access points should be placed for fully connected lecture halls, libraries, student halls, and outdoor areas. This visibility mitigates any campus Wi-Fi coverage problems before they impact teaching. Next, you’ll need to decide what Wi-Fi network is right for your university.

Wi-Fi 6

Suitable for high-density learning environments. Uses OFDMA and MU-MIMO technology to support hundreds of connections simultaneously.
Strong power efficiency. Extends device battery life and reduces energy across endpoints through Target Wake Time.
Good throughput in shared spaces. Maintains remote teaching tools like Teams and Zoom by minimising congestion and latency.

Wi-Fi 6E

Access to the 6 GHz band. This helps improve network performance and reliability for device-heavy and busy campuses.
Ideal for high bandwidth research activities. Multi-gigabit speeds can connect cloud-based research, 4K/8K streaming, and academic simulations.
Supports new future devices. Compatible with the latest laptops, tablets, and lab equipment necessary for world-leading research.

Wi-Fi 7

Access to 2.4GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands. Optimises speeds for real-time collaboration and AR/VR teaching using Multi-Link Operation (MLO).
Increases bandwidth and data density. Suitable for high performing research network and smart campus apps.
Ideal for next-generation learning. Supports IoT integration, AI-driven building management systems, and emerging technologies.

What does modern network infrastructure look like?

Every university has an existing network. Here’s how campus network modernisation differs:

Software-defined connectivity

Access real-time visibility and performance control across multi-campus, city campus, and remote site environments.
Easily scale your network as demand for hybrid learning, high-bandwidth research, and smart campus initiatives continues to grow.

Long-term digital maturity

Monitor network health and pre-empt issues before they arise, reducing time firefighting problems.
Adapt quickly to new user demands from students and staff, so you can continue creating a competitive experience.

Secure high performance

Create a user experience worthy of attracting future cohorts and keeping current students happy, with high-speed access points.
Maintain strong defences against evolving cyber threats with Network Access Control (NAC).

Block’s network architecture for universities

Connect multiple devices across libraries and lecture rooms

Deliver a home-from-home student halls experience

Oust cyber attackers and protect intellectual property

Decrease network outages for essential operations

Improve student safety around campus

Support remote learning and better inclusivity

Provide clinical-grade connectivity to medical schools

Enhance access to digital resources and support world-leading research

Use cases for your university’s network

What is smart campus networking?

Many universities have ambitions to create smart campuses. This means integrating IoT devices, sensors, and automation across the university so you can collect real-time data. This insight means you can see where you can add value, create efficiencies, and enhance the student experience.

These sensors can be useful for maintaining your network. For example, smart power technology can mitigate issues before they arise, improving your networks resilience. Meanwhile, smart comms rooms use sensors to keep your hardware at an energy efficient temperature because overheating can decrease your network’s lifespan. In-building cellular is another smart technology that can increase your network’s resilience by providing a secure backup for wireless connectivity.

Beyond back-end networking, there are also smart technologies designed to directly impact the end-user (occupancy monitoring, smart lights, and smart HVAC). Regardless of where you decide to focus, strong connectivity will be key to supporting devices during your smart transformation.

Queen Mary University Student Experience

How to approach cybersecurity and compliance

Cutting edge research, financial information, and personal data make higher education an attractive target for cyber attackers. In fact, MI5 has warned British universities of state-sponsored attacks.
Your network security can be a key defence against cyber-attacks. Here are some of the tactics you can include in your strategy:

Build protection into every layer of your network architecture from day one.
Advanced network access controls to identify devices and control access.
Intelligent threat monitoring to pre-empt potential cyber attacks before impact.
Embedding zero trust principles and encryption standards.
Segmentation reduces your network’s internal attack surface.
Endpoint posture, NDR/vulnerability scanning, and IoT security tools provides contextual access.

How to deploy a secure-by-design network

How to make the most of your deployment

Good connectivity starts with the right network technology and a strong long-term strategy. But you’ll also need to think about what happens beyond deployment.

How can you keep your tech in tip-top condition? How can you maximise the value you get from your investment? And how can you stop small issues from growing into big disasters?

A proactive network management style is key. Some university digital teams opt to manage their campus network in-house. However, managed service providers can also take care of this for busy teams.

For example, Block’s managed service is called Human+. This involves intelligent service management, dynamic network automation, and deep operational assurance using custom-built software. Our engineers use this approach to make sure your network remains self-healing, resilient, and high performing for as long as possible.

Our roadmap to a digital campus

Digital transformation in higher education takes time. You’ll need to start by mapping out a realistic journey that keeps your university on course.

For example, how can you make sure all your investments help you reach your digital goals? Does your university have all the expertise you need in-house? How can you foster the right culture across campus so you can make changes? How does reliable connectivity underpin your goals?

Block can work with you to co-design the right university network infrastructure for you.

Talk to a network expert today