Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Scottish College System Adopts Virtual Desktop for Construction Students

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 01/07/21

A five-campus college in Scotland has distributed a new virtual desktop for its construction students, to allow them to work on industry-grade software from home. The platform is being used by Fife College's "Built Environment" program, which encompasses design, construction and management of human-made structures, including building services, construction, furniture making and interior design.

The new desktop lets students run high-end programs such as Autodesk, Vectorworks, Rhinoceros 3D and the Adobe Creative Cloud from remote locations on nearly any device connected to the internet. Traditionally, these kinds of applications require faster, specialized processors and more RAM than traditional office productivity programs. The faculty began its hunt for a solution when COVID restrictions were put in place, forcing the learning to happen at home.

"The new virtual desktop for our built environment and interior design students is a great example of student-centered innovation and collaboration within the college, and I have to thank our digital team for listening to our proposition then enabling this," said Marc Fleming, academic and quality manager for the faculty of Engineering, Science, Technology and Built Environment, in a statement. "Our virtual desktop will ensure learners' needs are met regardless of the circumstances, and it makes a strong statement towards eradicating digital exclusion in the region. Without the introduction of the new desktop, students may have had to spend a lot of money on a high-spec laptop to run these programs from home. Being able to access these programs remotely, without having to install anything either now gives all students greater flexibility in terms of how they engage with their studies."

"This new and exciting platform is great for inclusivity. Being able to access such lucrative software will be hugely beneficial to my progression in my education to become an architect," added Rachael Livingstone, an architectural technology student. "Not having to worry about buying a pricey high spec laptop will be less of a strain on finances that have already been hit hard due to these unprecedented times."

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Minnesota District Converts Middle School into Community Hub

    White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced the end of a major renovation project that converted a former middle school into a new centralized district and community hub, according to a news release.

  • Myrtle Grove Elementary

    Phased Construction Keeps Students on Campus During Rebuild

    When Escambia County School District needed to replace most of Myrtle Grove Elementary School in Pensacola, Fla., it had three distinct challenges: honor the school's legacy in the community, bring state-of-the-art learning environments to the county, and be seamlessly built on the same site as the active school campus.

  • KWK Architects Announces Full Transition to Lawrence Group Branding

    KWK Architects recently announced that it will complete its transition to the Lawrence Group brand effective July 1, according to a news release. The merger marks the end of a three-year strategic integration process that began in March 2023 to unite the firms.

  • Montclair State University Starts Construction on $120M STEM Building

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $120-million Interdisciplinary Science Building, according to university news. The university partnered with HoK Architects for the project’s design, and it’s scheduled to open in time for the 2028–29 academic year.