Breaking barriers: How BdREN used Zoom to provide quality education to remote areas

The Bangladesh Research and Education Network (BdREN), implemented by the University Grants Commission (UGC) on behalf of the Ministry of Education (MoE), serves as a high-performance data communications network connecting higher education and research institutions. With its multi-gigabit capability, BdREN aims to bridge gaps across the country, providing reliable access to computing, virtualization, and software applications and supporting digital transformation in the higher education and research sector.

Confronting educational challenges

In the pursuit of delivering quality education, BdREN encountered formidable challenges, particularly in remote areas grappling with limited resources and infrastructure. Across various districts in Bangladesh, a pronounced shortage of qualified teachers presented a significant barrier to providing educational excellence. The conventional educational model, constrained by geographical limitations exacerbated by the closure of institutes due to the pandemic, proved impractical in these circumstances, necessitating a shift towards innovative solutions.

In 2018, BdREN introduced Zoom as a potential game-changer for its virtual classrooms. Recognizing the transformative potential of this technology, BdREN embarked on a journey to help revolutionize education in underserved regions. With the help of Zoom, the organisation was able to overcome geographical constraints and usher in a new era of accessible and quality education for its students.

Technological triumph over geographical constraints

Zoom’s virtual classroom platform helped BdREN provide a means for students to access education from any location. Features like video conferencing, screen sharing, and class recording helped enhance student engagement, participation, and academic performance. The user-friendly interface, efficient coding,  and compatibility across devices also helped facilitate effective use by faculty and students. Additionally,  BdREN’s use of Zoom on-premises deployments helped it to host all meetings locally, limiting the traffic within their private cloud,  and helped it offer enhanced quality of service and better control over its data and security, prioritizing its students’ privacy and safety.

To effectively overcome connectivity challenges, BdREN partnered with local internet service providers to enhance high-speed internet access in remote areas at an affordable cost. At the same time, University Grants Commission of Bangladesh facilitated the distribution of low-cost, internet-enabled devices to students, helping to ensure accessibility to virtual classrooms. BdREN conducted comprehensive training sessions for faculty to maximize the utility of Zoom and also leveraged data analytics to optimize the use of the platform. This strategic approach, coupled with Zoom’s streamlined and efficient coding, enabled BdREN to deliver high-quality educational services even in challenging network conditions. This not only provided a seamless user experience but also contributed to substantial cost savings through more efficient data usage.

Empowering education beyond boundaries

Zoom’s impact on BdREN has been profound, with BdREN not only expanding its membership but also witnessing an exponential surge in faculty engagement, firmly establishing itself as a pioneer in the realm of education technology.

Zoom proved instrumental in helping to catapult BdREN to the forefront of academic communities. The network experienced a meteoric rise in its membership, escalating from 70 to an impressive 195 institutes. Simultaneously, the number of faculty members using Zoom increased from around 100 to a mammoth figure of 27,000 during the pandemic. This surge helped underscore the platform’s efficacy in meeting the diverse needs of BdREN.

BdREN was also able to seamlessly weave Zoom into the fabric of its operations, demonstrating Zoom’s  adaptability to various devices and platforms. The integration, however, was not without its challenges. Issues such as network configuration and support response times loomed, but BdREN efficiently navigated through, leveraging Zoom’s application programming interface (API) for user management and license issuance automation. This integration allowed for a streamlined user experience, supporting a smooth transition from conventional to online learning.

The collaboration extended beyond mere video conferencing. BdREN successfully incorporated Zoom into its learning management systems (LMS), cultivating an environment conducive to collaborative and innovative learning. “BdREN’s integration of Zoom goes beyond video conferencing; it’s about shaping the future of education,” said Mohammad Tawrit, CEO, Bangladesh Research & Education Network (BdREN).  “Today, Zoom has become integral in fostering our collaborative and innovative learning environments.”

The onset of the pandemic saw an unprecedented surge in the demand for virtual meetings. BdREN, powered by Zoom, deftly managed this surge, helping to ensure uninterrupted education and research activities. This responsiveness became a hallmark of BdREN’s commitment to providing seamless online experiences, irrespective of external challenges. Zoom’s versatility was also showcased in the hosting of large-scale events, exemplified by the Advisory Committee meeting and Grand Opening of APAN53. BdREN orchestrated hybrid meetings with participants spanning over 30 countries, highlighting Zoom’s efficiency in managing complex and globally dispersed gatherings. This not only helped emphasize the technical prowess of Zoom, but also positioned BdREN as a leading orchestrator of virtual events on a global stage.

BdREN’s adoption of Zoom transcended conventional academic engagements. The platform became a catalyst for community engagement through a myriad of events, including digital seminars and talk shows. These events not only enriched the academic discourse but also fostered a sense of community and collaboration. Zoom played a pivotal role in helping BdREN realize its networking and collaboration objectives. It went beyond being perceived solely as an internet service provider by BdREN, evolving into an enabler of collaborative endeavours within the academic community. BdREN’s commitment to harnessing technology for academic progress became evident, propelling it into a leadership role.

Reflecting on Zoom’s transformative role, Tawrit said, “Zoom has been our beacon of transformation, helping us break geographical barriers and usher in a new era of accessible and quality education for students in the remote corners of Bangladesh through our leverage of Zoom’s efficient coding mechanism.”

Utilizing Zoom in virtual classrooms helped BdREN facilitate access to global resources and experts and enrich the learning experience for students. Real-time interaction with peers and faculty improved collaboration, creating a more dynamic and participatory learning environment. Additionally, using Zoom greatly reduced the dependence on physical classrooms and travel expenses, making education more affordable and accessible to students in remote areas. BdREN’s successful integration of Zoom in virtual classrooms showcases the transformative power of technology in education. By leveraging Zoom, BdREN overcame the challenges posed by limited resources and infrastructure, providing students with access to a world-class education. 

“As we envision continuous integration of collaboration technology, Zoom remains at the forefront,” Tawrit said. “We plan to motivate faculty members from private universities, honours and masters colleges under national universities, and other members from the research and education community to join our consortium, and at the same time organize awareness sessions on Zoom Marketplace applications. Moreover, we are trying to encourage other Asia-Pacific NRENs to follow suit.”

BdREN’s example serves as an inspirational testament to the positive impact of innovative technology solutions in helping to address educational disparities and break down barriers for remote learners.