http://www.neptun.ethz.ch/
Projekttyp: Infostructure Elements
Keywords: Student computing, Laptop, E-Learning

With project Neptun ETH Zurich seeks to ensure that all students have access to a laptop computer as a personal work tool. The project is complemented by the campus-wide wireless access put in place by the Wireless LAN project.

Through the project new student work places are established and some of the load is taken off the central computer rooms. The improved access for students to computing resources helps to promote learning independent of time and space. This contributes to improving the quality of teaching and research.

Neptun selects the laptop suppliers and the equipment models and negotiates the purchase conditions. The students buy the laptops with their private means. Students in need can apply for financial aid.

Neptun distributes software free of charge or at very good conditions, offers support through a helpdesk and provides the supporting infrastructure (printers, docking stations, power outlets, anti-theft devices, lockers, etc.). The service offering is publicized to all students and staff through a broad palette of communication measures (website, flyers, posters, emails, letters, etc.).

Through a set of accompanying measures faculty are motivated and trained for using the laptops in their teaching.

In a pilot project in the winter semester 2001/02 first experiences were collected with four Departments. In the following year ten Departments participated in the action and in the third year the project has been extended to all of ETH Zurich. In the meantime several other universities and other educational establishments in Switzerland have joined the project.

Meilensteine:
2001/03/01		Project start
2001/10/21		Start of pilot project in four Departments (D-ANBI, D-ARCH, D-INFK und D-MAVT)
2002/03/31		Evaluation of pilot project
2002/06/01		Start of Neptun II: Extension to 10 Departments
2003/02/25		Evaluation of Phase II
2003/06/01		Start Neptun III: Extension to all of ETH Zurich
2004/02/29		Evaluation of Phase III
2004/06/01		Start Neptun IV: Transfer to day-to-day operation
2005/02/28		Final evaluations
2005/06/30		Project end