Wireless LAN networks such as Wi-Fi are now the connectivity medium of choice and with wireless traffic expected to exceed wired traffic by the end of 2015, it is becoming crucial for students to gain knowledge and real-world experience with mobility technology.
Aruba Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARUN) has created Aruba Mobility Academy, educational materials for a mobility-specific education program designed for colleges. Aruba Mobility Academy is a global program and Texas A&M University is one of the first universities to participate in the program, with Dr. Ana Goulart teaching networking courses and integrating segments of the academy in three of her courses.
Goulart, an assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution and a faculty member in the Electronics Systems Engineering Technology (eSET) program, plans to expand the academy into more courses this summer and fall.
"We live in a world where we are increasingly relying on wireless technology to live and work, so it's important to make sure our students have the opportunity to learn about the fundamentals of building and operating wireless networks," said Goulart,. "With the Aruba Mobility Academy curriculum, including hands-on lab lessons, students gain a pragmatic understanding of Wi-Fi and learn how to keep the network secure while providing access to a variety of wireless and mobile devices."
Upon completion of the course, Aruba Mobility Academy students will have the technical understanding and hands-on experience to configure a wireless LAN with mobility controllers and access points. Additionally, the courses cover common Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) networking challenges, with a focus on Wi-Fi fundamentals, spectrum analysis, wireless LAN design, Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) configuration for 802.1X and Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) authentication, and mobile device provisioning for employees and guests.