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Case studyeducation

Once considered the least developed o the ormer Yugoslavian republics,Macedonia is leaping into the 21st century. Thanks to low-cost virtualdesktop technology rom NComputing, Macedonia is the frst countryever to provide 1:1 computing (one computer per student) to its entirepublic school population.

Toward a knowledge-based economyComputers are taking a leading role in education. The Macedoniangovernment wants to create a knowledge-based economy and is undertakinga series o bold steps to make that happen. A key step is to give every studentin the nation (all 360,000 o them) access to a computer.

The Computer or Every Student initiative is the largest and the mostimportant education undertaking in the 15-year history o the Republic oMacedonia, said Ivo Ivanovski, the countrys Minister or the InormationSociety, who is driving the project.

The program will have a proound eect on how lessons are taught. Allscience, math, biology, and chemistry classes will include some onlinecomponent, according to Ivanovski.

Challenge

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Solution

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Impact

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Republic o Macedonia frst nation toprovide a computer or every student

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8/9/2019 NComputing-casestudy-Macedonia

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Case studyeducation

Laptops are too expensive

But how to make it a reality? Like many developing nations, Macedonia haslimited unds and inrastructure. I the cost o the program came in too highor required too complex an implementation, it wasnt going to happen.

The country began its search with low-cost educational laptops. But at$175 per laptop, the price came out to a whopping $63 million. And itdidnt stop there. The school system would need an additional 20,000laptops each year or newly enrolled students, not to mention replacingthose computers that get damaged, lost, or stolen. Finally, the costs orproviding ongoing maintenance and support or so many individuallaptops drove Macedonia to look or a more aordable option.

They chose the NComputing X-series. The X-series use regular PCs andinexpensive virtual desktops, and are a raction o the cost o providing

a laptop to every child.

Choosing LinuxTwo NComputing X-series kits enable seven students to use a single PCsimultaneously. An X-series kit includes a PCI card and three small accessdevices (one per student) that connect to the PCI card via a standard CAT5cable. Each device has ports or connecting a monitor, keyboard, mouse, andspeakers. A seventh user works directly on the shared PC.

NComputing supports Windows and Linux, and Macedonia is runningUbuntu Linux, a ree operating system, on their shared PCs. In addition,each computer is installed with OpenOfce, Mozilla Fireox and Thunderbird,Evolution, and Wine.

The entire rollout will include 160,000 access devices and 20,000 NComputing-enabled PCs. The logistics are massive. Fortunately, virtual desktops, whichmake up a vast majority o the seats, install in minutes. And the solution itselrequires little training. Typically, a sta teacher with some PC experience canlearn the system in a ew hours.

The NComputing X-series oers signifcant cost advantages over individualPCs. It requires 90% less electricity to run and greatly reduces maintenanceand replacement costs. And with NComputing, only 20,000 computers willneed to be upgraded fve years down the road.

With the help o NComputing, computer access will be a part o everyday lieor a growing generation o Macedonian children. And the country will meet

its goal o having an entire workorce educated in using inormation andcommunication technology in the next fve years.

NComputingoers signifcantcost advantages overindividual PCs. Itrequires 90% lesselectricity to run andgreatly reducesmaintenance andreplacement costs.IVO IVANOVSKIMINISTER FOR THEINFORMATION SOCIETY

ncomputing.com

Copyright 2003-2009. NComputing, Inc. All rights reser ved. NComputing is the property o NComputingOther trademarks and trade names are the property o their respective owners. Specifcations subject tochange without notice. Perormance may var y, depending on the confguration o the shared computer

CASESTUDY MACEDONIA EDU REV6

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