Linux in education question

Open Source Projects · 26 views · 3 replies

I wonder which colleges and universities support Linux on their campuses.

For example,

1) Does your institution have computers running Linux in labs or classrooms on campus with access for all students -- or only for students in specific programs?

2) Does your institution ensure software and resources support students using non-Windows devices including Linux?

3) Does your institution encourage, discourage or block the use of open-source software by staff or students?

Thanks,
Robert

At SAIT, things are pretty grim for open source:

1) Software development students are introduced to Linux in a virtual machine lab as part of a semester one course. I don't think anyone else even hears of Linux.

2) There is no support for Linux, we Linux users have to take matters into our own hands by either dual booting Windows or using virtual machines in some circumstances, such as test taking on the Lockdown browser.

3) The institution discourages the use of open source alternatives, believing there won't be consistency if not everyone is using the Microsoft office tools. There is some open-source software usage in cases where it is the industry standard, such as git for version control and Linux for containers and virtual machines on Azure deployments.

Calgary is in general not a hub for open source activity, we don't even have any open source community meetups of any kind that I'm aware of, and no Linux Association chapter.

@Terrell
We're working on it. Tip: why don't you team up with other students ands start a chapter? We are more than willing to get in touch with your university to try of we can start working there. Workshops, guest speakers, there are so many options.

Workshops and guest speakers could be a great idea! This is something SAIT might be open to if it has some connection to industry.

As for starting a chapter I'm not sure. Its difficult because most people spend a very short amount of time at SAIT. Since I went on leave the people I knew who use Linux have since moved on from the school. I don't think I have the necessary skills to start such a group, and I have a number of other projects I need to finish first.

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