University of Warwick, School of Engineering

The University of Warwick’s School of Engineering is at the forefront of modernising higher education -  and its newly redesigned computer suite exemplifies this commitment. With a strong focus on usability, flexibility, and future-readiness, the department has transformed a traditional lab into a collaborative hub for active learning, powered by WolfVision’s vSolution MATRIX and Cynap systems.

The original room served as a fixed PC lab, limited in layout and teaching style. With rows of static desks, the space restricted interaction and collaborative workflows. “It was functional, but not particularly engaging,” says Stephen Hawke, Academic and Operations Technologist at the University of Warwick. “It didn’t support the kind of teamwork and interdisciplinary projects our students are increasingly involved in.”

Recognising the need for change, the department reimagined the room as a pilot space under the University’s STEM Connect programme - a campus-wide initiative to bring together disciplines like physics, chemistry, manufacturing, and engineering into more integrated learning experiences. The goal was to create a space that would support flexible group work, while also improving accessibility for both students and staff.

Working with educational furniture specialist Zioxi Ltd, the team installed collaborative desks featuring pop-up PC workstations, allowing students to retract PCs and repurpose the room for teaching, workshops, or project-based learning. Each pod supports both independent and team use, giving learners full control over how they engage with content.

Complementing the new furniture is a powerful AV system built around vSolution MATRIX, Cynap Pro, and Cynap Core Pro units, installed in collaboration with GVAV, the university’s AV integration partner and WolfVision. A central Cynap Pro manages all AV routing, allowing content to be pushed to - or pulled from - any table, any screen, at any time.

“The ability to control content centrally or let students share from their own devices is game-changing,” says Stephen. “Whether using a PC, tablet, or laptop, students can mirror their screen to their table display - or the lecturer can share something from the front to all stations with just one click.”

Each desk station also features the vSolution App, pre-installed on all lab PCs to support wireless mirroring. Students using their own laptops, tablets, or phones can also share content directly to their group display, making it easy to collaborate across different device types.

Key to the system’s success has been the use of WolfVision’s vSolution COMPOSER interface - an intuitive touchscreen-based control environment that replaces the need for additional room control systems. While other AV setups might require complex configurations, COMPOSER streamlines the experience with pre-configured shortcuts such as “Share to All,” “Share Left Side,” or “Share Right Side.”

“Some staff were hesitant at first, but once we showed them how it worked, they didn’t come back asking for help - and that says a lot,” Stephen notes. “It’s intuitive, efficient, and doesn’t overload staff who already have a lot to focus on.”

The system is also future-ready. To prepare for increasing cohort sizes, the department is adding two more Cynap Core Pro units to neighbouring rooms this summer, enabling seamless overflow support. When needed, the main room can stream content to the adjacent spaces - or even receive content from them - creating a flexible, connected teaching network.

“We’re designing it so a lecturer can start a session in the main space, then move to another room mid-way and still keep all students engaged through shared content,” Stephen explains. “It’s all about making the learning experience consistent - no matter where the student is sitting.”

The room currently houses 17 student stations, each designed for group-based work. Instructors can assign different tasks to different groups, share examples across the room, or switch to full-room mode for centralised teaching. For added visibility, two Cynap Pure Receiver units serve as cost-effective receiver devices, driving repeater screens without the need for a full Cynap system at each location.

What’s more, the room isn’t just for formal instruction. When not scheduled for teaching, it becomes a popular spot for informal study. Students often gather in groups to work on final year projects, using the AV system to collaborate in real time.

“We’ve seen students using their own devices alongside lab PCs and tablets - whatever they’re most comfortable with,” says Stephen. “It’s all about removing barriers and letting them focus on the work, not the technology.”

Student and faculty feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Academics appreciate the ease of use and seamless experience. Students value the flexibility, especially the ability to connect and collaborate from any device or screen in the room.

“Everyone says it’s the best space to work in,” says Stephen. “Not just because it looks good, but because it works. Students know they can connect quickly and get things done.”

The system also offers greater autonomy and flexibility. With admin access to MATRIX, the Warwick team can manage layouts and easily create templates in-house - giving them the freedom to adapt the system as teaching needs evolve. Unlike some setups that require external configuration, this self-sufficiency has proven to be a valuable advantage, enabling quicker updates and more responsive support for academic users.

“If something isn’t working the way we want, we can fix it ourselves or drop WolfVision a quick message and get help right away,” Stephen says. “That responsiveness has been a huge part of the success.”

The success of the space has laid the foundation for future expansion. Plans are already in place to enhance connectivity across additional rooms, introduce iPad-based room control for mobile teaching, and also to gather feedback directly from student committees to further refine how the space supports their learning.

The project also serves as a model for other departments at Warwick - and beyond - looking to adopt flexible, collaborative teaching environments that blend technology with meaningful learning outcomes.

WolfVision is proud to support the University of Warwick’s vision for future-focused, active learning - helping empower students and educators alike through intuitive, flexible AV solutions.