For the last 27 years, Akhter Computers has worked directly with schools to help them achieve exactly this. The company has evolved to meet the new challenges faced by the ever changing education sector. In the beginning the company supplied BBC computers, the 80s saw the inclusion of additional software packages and the company now specialises in working with schools to install and manage entire ICT solutions, including network management and installation. Akhter is a Microsoft Gold Partner and Intel Premier Provider and operates a quality scheme compliant with ISO 9001:2000.
It was through working closely with existing education customers that the latest addition to the company’s range was conceived. While installing equipment it became evident that the ICT furniture being used in many schools was inadequate or badly designed. The founder and chairman of the company, Humayun Mughal, assessed suppliers of school furniture and was amazed to find that many ranges were incredibly expensive. Others were more moderately priced, but tended to be of poor quality.
In response to this Humayun commissioned the design of an Akhter range of IT furniture to combine practical functionality with value for money. Furniture used for any purpose in schools must be incredibly durable, but IT furniture needs to provide security for valuable equipment and also be safe without leaving trailing cables.
Flexibility is also a key point; more and more teachers need to be able to alter desk layouts quickly and easily to adapt learning environments to suit different lessons.
The desks themselves are incredibly good quality and have an upto- date design approach, ideal for use in schools. There has obviously been a lot of thought put into the range.
The fact that it has been developed specifically for schools by a company with constant direct contact with the education sector, means that the products fit perfectly with the needs of schools. In fact all of the products and services that Akhter offers to the education sector have evolved to solve real problems that schools were having, some examples follow.
Akhter Refresh: Akhter found that schools would often defer network upgrades or migrations, because of the expectation of downtime during the main process and concerns about long periods of “bedding in” issues afterwards. This is made worse when administrators need to learn how to use new management tools. The company designed “Akhter Refresh”, a program that takes the pain out of the network upgrade and migration process. Refresh brings your network up to date with the latest Microsoft standards, in a fraction of the time normally expected. For minimal disruption, Akhter often carries out Refresh during holiday periods for zero downtime during term times.
AkhterSuite Software: A range of education software developed by Akhter Computers. The range includes tools for network management, software installation, network monitoring and web browsing:
1 - InterJigsaw: Powerful, yet simple to use network management software, that empowers school staff to administer their areas, leaving technicians free to develop the network.
2 - RemInstall: Allows teachers to install operating systems, applications and files remotely from anywhere on the network.
3 - Teacher Console: Gives teachers full control over PCs used in a classroom. Teachers have a range of controls such as the power to limit pupil access to resources, lock screens, observe individual onscreen activity and reset passwords, putting the teacher fully in the driving seat.
More details on AkhterSuite www.AkhterSuite.co.uk
SharePoint: Learning platforms help teachers prepare and deliver lessons more efficiently. Akhter can install SharePoint to deliver the most up-to-date Virtual Learning Environment capabilities in line with DfES recommendations for 2008. This supports e-portfolio which tracks a pupil’s progress year by year. SharePoint delivers home access to an online learning space and can help absent pupils keep up with lessons.
VidFlow - Video Broadcast: SharePoint supports Akhter’s VidFlow that delivers video on demand or broadcasts to individual classes. VidFlow converts live TV to recorded digital format. This enables specific video lesson material to be developed, edited and delivered to classes via computer monitors or projectors.
All Day Notebook: In addition to manufacturing PCs Akhter has also developed the first ‘All-Day notebook’ with an eight or twelve hour battery life, eliminating the constant need to re-charge after each lesson!
Desk8: A modular interlocking desk system that can build thousands of different layouts. Its durability means that your investment will be a long term one, as you can retain the same furniture over many years through multiple classroom revamps. Desk8 provides a functional, robust, safe environment with secure storage for valuable IT equipment.
More details on Desk8 www.Desk8.co.uk
Cambridge BrainBox Electronic Kits: Until now kits for teaching electronics were expensive (one per class) and used wires and crocodile clips that often broke or went missing and were expensive to replace. Wires which need to be cut, stripped, or soldered and changed from one experiment to another took time. By contrast, two students can share an inexpensive Primary or Secondary Kit for a more ‘hands on’ learning experience. Parts are robust, easily replaced if lost and circuits are simple to assemble. Because of this simple assembly, experiments can be changed quickly, maintaining interest.
More details on kits www.CambridgeBrainbox.co.uk
Partnership with Education: As a technology company Akhter really is unique. So often companies involved in ICT get totally caught up in the actual technology and forget the things that are so vital to their customers. At Akhter there is a clear understanding that computers are only a delivery tool for information, assessment and curriculum. Individual schools’ needs are different and therefore each education customer needs a specialised solution that Akhter is geared up to deliver.
It is also obvious that the company is passionate about the education sector as it has established the Akhter Education Trust to support selected individuals or projects that will advance education in the UK. Akhter also sponsors the annual ‘Experience Pakistan’ project which gives year 10 students and their teachers the opportunity to win a trip to Pakistan in an Internet presentation competition.
The company also holds free seminars across the country, showcasing new and powerful working methods and network management tools. These events offer ICT Managers an opportunity to discuss any issues they may be facing with Akhter technical experts and guest speakers from Microsoft and Intel.
All of these things show Akhter’s complete commitment to partnership with Education. Combine this with the Company’s understanding and total support for every customer in line with aims of the Chairman, Humayun Mughal: “…to continue to develop Akhter’s specialist services to meet the increasingly complex requirements of our customers within education“ It would be difficult to imagine why a school looking for ICT Services would not at least give Akhter a call to have a discussion with the team about their requirements.
Tel: 01279 821200
