Oaklands College, UK

Oaklands College in Hertfordshire, UK, is redefining what’s possible in further education with a bold, tech-forward approach to teaching and learning. With campuses in St Albans, Welwyn Garden City and Borehamwood, the college serves thousands of learners aged 16 to 18 across a wide range of academic and vocational programmes. At the heart of their innovation journey is Cynap Pro from WolfVision, a multimedia hub that’s helping transform how students engage, collaborate, and create.

In the college’s flagship “iCollaborate” space - a reimagined hall with retractable tiered seating -  technology takes centre stage. At the heart of the space is a 6-metre widescreen display, complemented by a fully integrated multimedia tracking and presentation system. Designed for maximum versatility, iCollaborate supports everything from presentations, seminars, and guest speakers to immersive group work and live performances.

This flexible environment serves as both a lecture theatre and a high-tech events venue, accommodating up to 180 participants on-site, while also supporting hybrid learning through live streaming. Here, Cynap Pro functions as the central AV system, seamlessly managing inputs from PCs, laptops, ceiling microphones, and even live camera feeds. Designed and installed by Roche AV, the system gives educators and event hosts the power to manage dynamic, professional-grade presentations using WolfVision’s vSolution COMPOSER functionality.

“We had about 11 to 15 different pieces of content loaded at once - presentations, music, live video feeds, pre-recorded videos,” explains Technical Integrations Specialist Matthew Hunt. “Cynap Pro’s vSolution COMPOSER functionality let us switch effortlessly between them. It’s intuitive, powerful, and really well suited for live event management.”

This capability has been essential for staging high-impact student showcases, such as a recent Barber Bash where barbers performed live cuts while multiple camera angles were streamed to the main display. Music, visual branding, and presentations were all coordinated live - without missing a beat.

Beyond events, Oaklands has embraced virtual reality (VR) as a core teaching tool — and they’re using Cynap Pro to bring those experiences to life in ways that benefit not only the headset wearer, but the entire class.

Led by Future Technology & Learning Environments Manager, Anna Fairchild and her team, the college has partnered with Bodyswaps, a company that develops immersive VR applications focused on soft skills training. Their solutions integrate role-play simulations, debate scenarios, and generative AI feedback to support personal and professional development. Using Miracast support, students wearing Pico VR headsets cast their experiences in real time onto large screens via Cynap, allowing others in the room to observe, critique, and engage.

“VR is typically a very personal, one-on-one experience,” says Anna. “But with Cynap, we can cast what’s happening inside the headset to the entire room. That makes it collaborative - it opens up discussion, peer feedback, even assessment.”

This model has been used not only in student training but in staff development and employer engagement sessions. For example, students might watch a colleague go through a VR scenario and annotate behaviour using tablets, or log improvement suggestions, creating a dynamic feedback loop that blends virtual and physical interaction.

Thanks to Cynap’s built-in streaming and collaboration tools, Oaklands can now deliver lessons and masterclasses to multiple campuses simultaneously. Students in St Albans can join sessions taking place in Welwyn Garden City - or even around the world -  without leaving their classroom.

In one memorable case, Anna’s team used their Igloo-equipped immersive “iPlatform” space to virtually travel to Patagonia, and then streamed the experience via Cynap Pro into the iCollaborate room. “We called it a trip without the risk assessment,” she jokes - highlighting the power of the system to expand access and spark student curiosity.
This hybrid model is now being used to support cross-campus learning, large-scale awards ceremonies, employer days, and more. Ceiling microphone integration and Q-SYS system compatibility provide robust audio management and room control, while Cynap’s multi-source capabilities make it easy to switch between live input, media, and external devices.

Cynap Pro has also helped elevate the college’s public-facing events. During a recent VTCT Awards ceremony, external clients requested multi-screen streaming, interactive content, and on-site production. Cynap Pro handled it all - with multiple sources live at once, and a smooth operator workflow thanks to vSolution COMPOSER.

Even senior leadership is getting in on the act. College management now uses the system for monthly meetings, incorporating interactive quizzes and leaderboards powered by QR code inputs. Plans are in place to integrate iPads for “HUD-style” learning experiences and quizzes, increasing participation across departments.
 

“It’s been a year of experimentation,” Anna says. “We’ve had total freedom to try new things, and Cynap has adapted every time. It’s not just for education - it’s a professional AV system that gives us the tools to produce almost anything.”
The college’s second Cynap Pro unit at St Albans is already in use, and while the space is smaller, the plan is to replicate the success of iCollaborate and tie it into their wider ecosystem. The long-term goal: integrate all the colleges main digital learning spaces  into a single seamless learning experience.

Construction and engineering courses are also benefitting. Students regularly review drone footage and 360° imagery in Thinglink using Cynap Pro displays. Future ideas include annotating engineering blueprints in 360° or navigating virtual environments. “It’s a game changer,” Anna says. “The students feel like they’re part of something professional. They behave differently in this space - they stand taller, engage more, and leave feeling inspired.”

With Cynap Pro at the core of its most innovative learning spaces, Oaklands College is setting a new benchmark for technology-enhanced education. By combining flexible infrastructure, immersive tools, and intuitive AV control, the college is not only enriching the student experience - it’s also empowering staff to push boundaries, deliver impactful events, and build a truly future-ready campus environment.