Ubuntu and Education

Ubuntu is able to put cutting edge computing technology into schools and education facilities around the globe. Here you can learn how Ubuntu will help your institution save money and provide a solid information foundation for your students.

Simple Low-Cost Management Ubuntu is Cost Effective Ubuntu is Licence Free Ubuntu is Secure Ubuntu is Manageable Ubuntu is Compatible Ubuntu is Well Suported Ubuntu offers Support & Training

Ideal for the Classroom Ubuntu is Free Ubuntu is Easy to Use Ubuntu has Education Add-ons Ubuntu has Application Libraries Ubuntu is Global Ubuntu is Compatible

Cost Effective for Limited Education Budgets

With ever-increasing demands on school budgets, expensive technology is often last on the list. Ubuntu can help you offer what your students increasingly require from computer technology, without breaking the bank. Ubuntu is and always will be free to acquire, use and modify.

Need to set up another machine? Or another 100? Just install them! With Ubuntu you'll have no more expensive OS upgrades and licenses, and having specialized programs on only some computers will become a thing of the past. When you build your network on Open Source software, you are freed to seek support for your computers from whomever you wish.

No Licencing or Registration Housekeeping and Maintenance

All Ubuntu software is released under GPL, which means it is effectively licence free as opposed to free licence.

What does that mean to you in practical terms ? Well there is no need to:

• record and track installations
• maintain a software asset register
• register or sign anything
• be concerned that your "free licences" may expire be revoked in the future
• worry that the software piracy police will find you in violation of some fine print
• consider your organisation liable for the actions of learners or educators who copy software

Ubuntu is free and will always be free. Install, copy, share and distribute - when and how as you need or choose to - all with our full blessing.

Secure Systems and Safe Desktops

Security has become a key challenge for educators and the team behind Ubuntu recognize this. Often schools lack the specialized IT staff or time to lock and clean up computers.

Ubuntu, being a Linux-based operating system, enjoys the security advantages of its Unix-like and open source heritages. This translates into higher quality code and less spyware and viruses than plague other operating systems. In addition, it has a strict, proactive security policy which means that many common problems, such as open ports or misconfigured software, never make it into the released product. Finally, it is a true multi-user operating system, making it easy to allow users to complete their tasks without having a level of access that could compromise the system.

Manageable for Educators and Support Staff

With teachers and school IT departments deploying and administering an increasing number of computers, it is difficult to find time to manage individual machines. Ubuntu, with the option of using LTSP thin client technology, makes deployment and management simple and easy. A single server is all that is needed to set up, manage and administrate an entire network. The Ubuntu team also recognizes that not every school's setup is the same, so they've made Ubuntu easy to customize for your unique needs.

The goal of the Education Programme is to Enable Educators to spend more time teaching, and less time managing the computers or network. Allow your education staff to have more productive time available for teaching.

Most educational computer networks are heterogeneous, consisting of various operating systems, and it is sometimes difficult to configure them to work together. Ubuntu plays well with others.

Ubuntu servers can happily coexist on the same network as other operating systems. You can even install Ubuntu and another operating system on the same machine. Need to share files between Ubuntu and other operating system or connect to a remote server? Ubuntu does that too.

Broad Range of Support Options

Ubuntu Education users span the globe, and we recognise that different counries have differing languages, varying preferences and special requirements to suit local conditions and needs. Ubuntu includes language packs over 150 languges. allowing you to install and use Ubuntu in your native tongue.

A broad range of support is available, many of which have their own local region and language facilities:

• Free Documentation
• Ubuntu Help Site
• Ubuntu Wiki Site
• Ubuntu User Forums
• Ubuntu IRC Channels
• Ubuntu Mailing Lists
• Ubuntu LoCo Teams

Official Support and Training - Commercial Options

Where your education operations and delivery depend on mission criticial infrastructure, you can get the peace of mind and gain confidence in the continuity of your services that comes with official support from Canonical, and our official Partner Network.

For your key human resources you can develop in-house skills and confidence in your staff by electing to send them for official Ubuntu training and certification.