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Executive Summary

Atlantic Technological University, a leading institution specialising in flexible distance learning and blended learning courses, sought to enhance its web development and database curriculum by providing students with practical, hands-on experience in web hosting and database management.

The web hosting service provided by Education Host provides students and lecturers with end-to-end management of their own web hosting space, with a secure domain for each account.

Included in the solution is:

  • Client area for management of services and support tickets
  • Access to the cPanel control panel for each student and lecturer
  • Active Directory Integration to enable user, password, and access
    management at an organisation level
  • Subdomain per student and lecturer
  • One-Click installations of hundreds of popular scripts (such as
    WordPress)
  • User-selectable PHP versions based on the L.A.M.P (Linux Apache,
    MySQL, PHP stack)
  • Management Dashboard for student management
  • Secure FTP and jailed shell access
  • Rule of Three backups including local high availability and 2x offsite locations
  • Self-service file recovery

Challenges

With an increasing number of students enrolling in web development and database courses, Atlantic Technological University faced several challenges:

  • Limited Storage and Bandwidth: Free hosting often comes with tight limits on disk space and bandwidth. This can quickly become a problem if your website receives more traffic or you need to store more content, such as images, videos, or large files.
  • Limited Features: Free hosting plans usually come with limited features, such as restricted access to databases, file types, or programming languages (like PHP or Python). This makes it hard to build anything complex or dynamic.
  • Data and Privacy Concerns: Free hosts may log or even sell data related to your site’s traffic or content. Privacy policies can be unclear, and backups are rarely provided, which could result in data loss.
  • Scalability: Managing individual hosting environments for a large student body was becoming increasingly complex and time-consuming.
  • Cloud Based – Cloud-based web hosting with industry-leading tools and advanced student management functionality.

 

  • Real-World Experience: The university wanted to offer a hosting solution that mimicked real-world scenarios, preparing students for industry demands.
"Previously, Atlantic Technological University (ATU) relied on free hosting services to support Digital Business students across five distinct programs, accommodating approximately 250 students annually, though exact enrolment numbers vary. As student enrolment grew, effectively managing resources in our web development and database courses became increasingly complex,"
Atlantic Technological University
Lecturer
Atlantic Technological University (ATU)
"A scalable, cloud-based solution became essential, offering flexible storage, bandwidth, robust feature support, and secure data management. Our goal was to establish an educational environment that closely aligns with industry standards, enabling students to engage with real-world tools and practices they will encounter in professional settings. Ensuring the security of student data is paramount, and the integration of SSL security within our new hosting platform has greatly alleviated concerns about data integrity and protection. Furthermore, Single Sign-On (SSO) functionality has become imperative within our institution yet was previously unavailable through free hosting services. With our transition to an educational web hosting platform, we have successfully streamlined both platform access and resource management, significantly enhancing the educational experience for our students.”
Atlantic Technological University
Lecturer
Atlantic Technological University (ATU)
"Our role as lecturers has certainly become more manageable."
Atlantic Technological University
Lecturer
Atlantic Technological University (ATU)

The Solution

Atlantic Technological University partnered with Education Host Ltd, leveraging their Student Web Hosting Platform to address these challenges.

About Education Host’s Student Web Hosting Platform

The platform offers a scalable, user-friendly hosting solution tailored for educational institutions. Key features include:

  • Easy Management: A centralised control panel for lecturers and administrators to manage all student accounts.
  • Student Autonomy: Students receive individual hosting accounts with the freedom to experiment and learn.
  • Technical Support: Dedicated lecturer support from Education Host ensures any issues are resolved promptly.
  • Realistic Environment: The platform replicates industry-standard hosting environments, providing practical experience.

Implementation

The implementation process was smooth and efficient:

  1. Assessment: Education Host collaborated with Atlantic Technological University IT team to understand specific needs.
  2. Customisation: The platform was tailored to align with the university’s curriculum requirements.
  3. Deployment: Student accounts were set up by teaching teams throughout the university.
  4. Training: Workshops were conducted to familiarise faculty with the platform.
“The implementation process with Education Host was seamless and highly collaborative,”
Atlantic Technological University
IT Technical Officer
Atlantic Technological University (ATU)
“From the initial assessment through to customisation and deployment, the platform was expertly tailored to our curriculum needs. Education Host worked closely with our team to ensure a smooth setup, and the training workshops empowered our faculty to confidently manage and utilise the platform. It’s been a real step forward in enhancing our students’ learning experience.”
Atlantic Technological University
IT Technical Officer
Atlantic Technological University (ATU)

Results

Post-implementation, Atlantic Technological University observed significant improvements:

  • Enhanced Learning: Students gained practical skills in a real-world hosting environment.
  • Enhanced Secure Platform – Determined by the security scorecard score, managed by Atlantic Technological University.
  • Reduced Workload: The IT department experienced a decrease in support tickets related to hosting issues.
  • Positive Feedback: Both students and faculty reported high satisfaction with the new hosting solution.

Conclusion

By adopting Education Host’s Student Web Hosting Platform and Database, Atlantic Technological University successfully enhanced its web development and database programs, providing students with valuable, hands-on experience while streamlining administrative efforts.

“Since adopting the Education Host platform, Atlantic Technological University (ATU) has established a robust, cloud-based system that delivers dependable performance, adaptable resources, and sophisticated management capabilities. This implementation has expanded storage and bandwidth capacities, enabling student websites to manage increased traffic demands and incorporate more content-rich elements seamlessly. Education Host provides comprehensive access to databases and essential tools for creating dynamic and interactive web content.”
Atlantic Technological University
Lecturer
Atlantic Technological University (ATU)
“The platform’s Single Sign-On (SSO) integration strengthens ATU's data privacy, ensuring secure data policies and regular backups for enhanced protection of student and staff information. The administrative interface empowers staff to efficiently manage user roles and permissions, streamlining the processes of adding, editing, and removing users. Scalable solutions within the platform simplify management, significantly reducing administrative workload and improving the experience for both staff and students. ATU is pleased to have implemented a secure, cloud-based platform that is manageable and beneficial for all stakeholders.”
Atlantic Technological University
Lecturer
Atlantic Technological University (ATU)

Closing Statements

About Atlantic Technological University

Atlantic Technological University offers a range of career-focused qualifications, including degrees, master’s, and MBAs. With a commitment to providing flexible learning options, the university empowers students to study anytime, anywhere.

About Education Host Ltd

Education Host Ltd specialises in providing tailored hosting solutions for educational institutions. With a focus on scalability, ease of use, and dedicated support, they help schools, colleges, and universities enhance their IT offerings.

"We are exceptionally pleased with the adoption of our web hosting platform, which has surpassed our expectations in both functionality and support. Special mention to Nick Williams (and his team) who demonstrated outstanding responsiveness, proving to be highly accessible and communicative throughout the entire process. His willingness to assist and provide guidance ensured a seamless transition and a positive experience for staff in ATU. We are confident that the high level of communication and support we have experienced will continue as we move forward with Education Host. This positive partnership has already attracted the attention of other departments within ATU, who are now investing in Education Host’s cloud-based solutions. The strong rapport established with their team not only fosters trust but also sets a foundation for lasting collaboration across the university”
Atlantic Technological University
Lecturer
Atlantic Technological University (ATU)
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