Case Studies / Automated Lecture Livestreaming at Charles University

Automated Lecture Livestreaming at Charles University

21 Apr 2021 - 21:04

An easy-to-manage livestreaming solution powered by CamStreamer App helps Charles University make lectures available online, giving students flexible access to educational content while simplifying lecture production for faculty staff.

About the project

As one of the oldest universities in Europe, Charles University continuously looks for ways to modernize its teaching and make education more accessible. The Faculty of Law wanted to enable students to attend lectures remotely, review missed classes, and use recorded lectures as study materials outside the classroom.

The university initially experimented with livestreaming using cameras, notebooks, HDMI and audio cables, and external video production equipment. While the broadcasts were successful, preparing each lecture required significant time, technical knowledge, and a complex setup. The faculty therefore began searching for a simpler solution that would maintain professional quality while making livestreaming easy enough for everyday use.

"Students now have the opportunity to view our various international guest lectures without having to pack into a lecture hall. They can also use the lectures as study material and even listen to the audio while travelling, when reading lecture notes would not be practical."

Technical Solution

The university selected the AXIS V5915 PTZ Network Camera, designed specifically for professional livestreaming. The camera provides HDTV 1080p video, 30× optical zoom, smooth PTZ movement, professional XLR audio inputs, and an analog input for direct connection to the lecture hall's audio mixing system, ensuring high-quality speech recording during lectures.

Running CamStreamer App directly on the camera, the solution streams lectures automatically to YouTube Liveaccording to a predefined schedule without requiring an external computer or streaming software. Live broadcasts are automatically archived on YouTube, allowing students to replay lectures whenever needed while preparing for exams.

Earlier deployments stored recordings locally on the camera's SD card before automatically uploading them to the university's FTP repository during periods of lower network traffic. Today, YouTube automatically archives every livestream, making the workflow even simpler.

The camera also features an integrated LED indicator that clearly shows when livestreaming is active, helping lecturers know when the broadcast has started.

The university's administrators configure all streaming parameters only once through CamStreamer App, including streaming servers, encoding settings, and schedules. This allows lectures to begin automatically according to the academic timetable without requiring technical intervention. The faculty is also planning to introduce a simple one-button controller that would allow lecturers to start a livestream as easily as turning on a light switch.

Although the initial deployment focused on CamStreamer App, the solution can also be expanded with CamOverlay App to display lecturer names, lecture titles, timestamps, or other informational graphics directly within the video.

The Result

The new solution significantly simplified lecture production while making educational content accessible both inside and outside the university. Students can now attend overcrowded guest lectures remotely, watch broadcasts from other lecture halls, or study recorded lectures from home or on mobile devices whenever it is convenient.

"Students now have the opportunity to 'enter' certain overcrowded lectures offered by our foreign guests without being crowded in the lecture room. Broadcasts can also be viewed in other lecture halls or at home using smartphones. Students also use these lectures as study materials and even listen to the audio while travelling. The camera has been such a great benefit that we want to install more cameras in other main lecture halls and make all key lectures available online."

– Jan Krejčí, Faculty of Law, Charles University

Following the successful deployment, the Faculty of Law plans to expand the solution to additional lecture halls and continue the university's digital transformation by making more educational content available online through an intuitive, automated livestreaming workflow.

List of Supplies

Hardware

• AXIS V5915 PTZ Network Camera

Software

• CamStreamer App

• (Expandable with CamOverlay App)

Video Quality

• HDTV 1080p

Audio

• External audio (lecture hall sound system)

Streaming Platform

• YouTube Live

Location

• Prague, Czech Republic

Case Studies / Automated Lecture Livestreaming at Charles University