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By Werner Joubert, Commercial SYS Business Director (South Africa & SADC) at ASUS

Education is now and forever linked to the use of digital technologies. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis and advancements in nationwide digital transformation, South Africa’s learners and educators rely on personal computers, laptops and other devices. These tools allow them to access the learning resources and platforms they need, communicate and collaborate with each other, and, importantly, build the skillsets and digital competencies they need for the modern workplace.

The growth of digital jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa is being driven by rapidly growing digitally enabled services that not only require intermediate or digital skills, but also basic financial and digital literacy. By equipping students with the right solutions, South Africa can address this head-on.

Whether it’s parents purchasing their child’s first laptop before they leave for university or an educator looking to equip their classrooms, selecting the right PC for educational use is not always an easy task. A good place to start is by knowing what product features to prioritise. From there, parents and teachers can set their children and students up for success, giving them the best support possible to achieve their goals and objectives.

What makes a great PC for education?

Parents and educators should consider the following factors when it comes to selecting PCs and laptops for students:

• Design/Portability: Whether they stay in the classroom or take them out in the field, students require devices that offer high levels of portability and durability, built to withstand the wear and tear that comes with student life and usage.
• Storage: In the event that users do not have access to cloud or remote storage solutions, they will also require a device with a high storage capacity as well as solid-state drives (SSDs), which offer elevated performance over traditional HDDs.
• Usability: Devices that are equipped with TÜV-certified anti-glare and low blue light displays ensure comfort levels during long periods of usage, as well as help to protect users’ eyes.
• Maintenance/Support: In addition to product guarantees and warranties, parents should consider elements such as the operating system (OS) and vendor-supplied software packages, and determine how long they will be supported. Users may also benefit from devices built with a modular design, meaning they can upgrade hardware components when necessary or if they require more firepower from their workstations.
• Collaboration features: In the age of remote and hybrid learning, a quality built-in webcam and microphone will be essential for users to learn and collaborate effectively. Today’s laptops also come equipped with AI noise-cancelling technology and 3D noise-reduction webcams, enhancing video and audio quality and ensuring a better connection between learners and educators.

Another important factor to consider is performance, especially when it comes to students who may require their devices to run intensive workloads such as data processing or graphics rendering. Parents and teachers should take those specific use cases into account as they may require devices equipped with dedicated graphics processing units (GPUs) or top-of-the-line processors. Educators may also want to consider devices that are available with unified management platforms, designed to help them monitor systems remotely and streamline maintenance or updates.

Supporting the next generation through access and affordability

While digital transformation in our local education sector continues, it relies on the input and efforts of all stakeholders for maximum impact and to make long-lasting changes. In light of that, many PC manufacturers offer exclusive school discounts to students and parents, with eligible devices selected based on input by institutions and educators. The result is increased access and affordability, whether for a high school learner or someone going off to college.

Manufacturers and product vendors also have the chance to intervene directly, as was the case with ASUS, which sponsored ten ASUS ExpertBook B1 laptops to top-performing matriculants in Mpumalanga. Through such sponsorships, we not only help to close the digital divide, but establish a foundation on which South Africa’s youth can learn, grow and innovate.

Bolstered by devices designed, built and offered specifically for educational purposes, South African learners can receive the most optimised learning experience while tapping into next-generation technologies.