Preparing the Next Generation of Network Engineers at SMU

Challenge

High expectations, limited labs

Preparing the next generation of network engineers is no small task as new technologies reshape the field. At SMU Lyle, that responsibility is led by Dr. M. Scott Kingsley, program director and associate clinical professor for the Master of Science in Network Engineering program.

Employers expect students from this specialization within the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department to be versed in the latest cloud, container and software-defined technologies. For example, they are much more interested in a graduate's proficiency with platforms like OpenStack, Docker and Kubernetes than vendor certifications.

"Students are no longer becoming technicians or entry-level engineers," Kingsley said. "They're stepping into senior network engineering roles where they're expected to evaluate and design architectures."

Employers also expect students to have experience using AI tools to monitor, troubleshoot and optimize networks. "We basically have zero time to get ready for AI-driven operations," Kingsley said.

Students at SMU are a mix of recent undergraduates and mid-career professionals who expect labs to reflect these industry trends. Kingsley tried using hardware labs, vendor-specific simulators and online certification platforms but found them costly, limited and often unreliable.

"I had to rely on older equipment, which made building real-world scenarios very challenging," he said.

A strong lab environment has been imperative for SMU students as they prepare for the roles they are being hired to fill.

- Dr. M. Scott Kingsley, SMU Lyle

Solution

WWT Labs: Reliable, hands-on experience at scale

To address the gap between what students needed to succeed in the workforce and what SMU's existing lab environments could provide, Kingsley adopted WWT's Labs and Learning platform.

The browser-based labs give students on-demand access to an extensive, multi-vendor catalogue that mirrors what they will encounter in the workforce.

"The reason I like WWT so much is because the labs just run and the topics are what we're working on," Kingsley said. "They cover everything from networking and storage to compute and cloud platforms to AI. The menu is just awesome."

Kingsley integrated labs into his core networking classes as well as advanced electives such as data center networking, VXLAN and AI for networks. Adjunct professors began using the same labs, creating consistency across sections and ensuring students had a unified experience whether they were on campus or online.

Some of the labs used across the curriculum include:

Kingsley recalls only a single issue with a lab that was resolved immediately by an engineer — a sharp contrast to some other platforms that could keep him in call queues.

WWT Learning: Current insights for a shifting discipline

Beyond the labs, faculty in the Network Engineering program draw heavily from WWT's knowledge base to extend learning. The write-ups and articles that accompany labs give the program ready-made, current material to fold into courses.

"The WWT knowledge base is just phenomenal," Kingsley said. "I have an AI agent that will go out and find articles about the latest technologies and trends, but I just go to WWT first."

This combination of labs and learning lets instructors show students how the technologies they're working with connect to broader industry practices. This is particularly important given the pace at which AI is impacting network operations.

Results

A program running smoothly, with students ready for the field

With WWT Labs and Learning in place, faculty in the Network Engineering program in ECE no longer worry about unreliable platforms derailing syllabuses. Classes stay on track, giving faculty more time to teach and students more time to learn.

"The WWT lab documentation is excellent, and the labs operate flawlessly," Kingsley said.

Students notice too. At the end of each semester, they tell department staff how much they value the labs' ease of use and the depth of knowledge they gain.

Others simply ask, "You're going to have WWT stuff next term, right?"

The answer is a resounding yes as each semester the ECE department incorporates more labs into courses.

For SMU Lyle, the impact is cumulative: better prepared graduates, stronger student satisfaction and a program that can confidently keep pace with the dynamic skills today's networks demand.