Nagoya University Realizes HyFlex Learning In Large Lecture Halls With Hands-Free Audio Capture

Key Takeaways

• Nagoya University needed a more efficient way to support HyFlex learning while enabling remote students to participate in classroom discussions.
• To eliminate microphone runners and shared handheld microphones, the university adopted a ceiling-mounted audio solution using Shure MXA910 Ceiling Array Microphones.
• IntelliMix P300 Audio Conferencing Processors improved speech intelligibility by reducing echo, noise, and reverberation during lectures and discussions.
• The solution improved the learning experience for both in-person and remote students while reducing classroom setup and administration requirements.
• Beyond lectures, the system now supports event streaming, conferences, ceremonies, and other campus-wide activities. 

About Nagoya University 

Nagoya University originated from a temporary medical school/public hospital that was established in 1871. Today, it is one of Japan's leading comprehensive research universities with nine schools and 13 graduate schools. The university’s Higashiyama Campus houses the Faculty of Engineering, which piloted the implementation of new HyFlex learning facilities.

The Challenge: Enabling HyFlex Learning 

With the spread of COVID in Japan in early 2020, Nagoya University was forced to limit the number of students allowed to enter the campus. As a result, it began full-scale efforts to develop hybrid-flexible learning that allowed students to choose whether to attend classes face-to-face or online. 

As HyFlex learning became a long-term requirement, the university needed a scalable way to capture lectures, classroom discussions, and student questions for both in-person and remote participants.

In this new setup, capturing classroom interactions for remote students turned out to be both an operational and health & safety issue. University lectures are not just one-way but involve interactive discussions and Q&A. To ensure that online participants could follow on-site conversations, a dedicated “mic runner” was needed in large lecture halls to move around the room and hand over microphones to students who wanted to speak. 

Not only was this very labor-intensive and disrupted to course delivery, but the microphone also had to be disinfected every time. Nagoya University wanted to adopt a new hands-free audio capture method to replace the wireless handheld microphones and mic runner.

The Solution: MXA910 and IntelliMix P300 for HyFlex Learning

System integrator and education technology specialists Denshi Systems proposed a ceiling-mounted solution that included MXA910 Ceiling Array Microphones and IntelliMix P300 Audio Conferencing Processors.

The audio solution was deployed across several facilities on the Higashiyama Campus during the university’s spring break, enabling an expedited installation process. Install locations included a large 300-seat lecture room, a 180-seat hall, and a conference room with a capacity of about 100 people. 

These spaces were equipped with four or six MXA910s, depending on room size. Even when mounted at a height of up to 4 meters, the microphones were able to cover entire lecture halls and clearly capture student discussions, exceeding the university’s expectations.

To improve voice quality and reduce echo, noise, and reverberation, Denshi Systems installed IntelliMix P300 DSPs for audio processing. A dedicated P300 was installed for each unit of MXA910 to individually process the 8 coverage zones of each microphone, and an additional DSP was used to combine audio into a single input for the Zoom conferencing platform.

The Results: Improved Learning and Engagement

The new solution has been in full-scale operation since April 2022.

For administrative teams, the setup has brought significant operational and efficiency improvements. Preparation time for each class has been drastically reduced as professors no longer have to request mic runners and secure handheld microphones.

The greatest impact has been in students’ learning experience and engagement. Issues with remote students being unable to hear classroom discussions have been resolved, allowing everyone to communicate more effectively.

Remote participants appreciate being able to hear voices clearly and follow conversations at a natural pace. Increased opportunities for on-site students to speak up and contribute have also improved the flow of discussions.

Beyond regular classes, the new ceiling-mounted audio capture solution is also used for event streaming and archiving, including alumni's homecoming days, conferences, symposiums, graduation ceremonies, and inter-campus exchange events.

In the future, Nagoya University plans to further expand its audiovisual setup for HyFlex learning. As one of its priorities, it seeks to automate camera tracking and further enhance hybrid learning, lecture capture, and classroom collaboration. Currently, a teaching assistant manually directs a camera toward active speakers. Additionally, the university is also exploring a more advanced Voice Lift system to deliver more uniform sound throughout its teaching venues.

By capturing audio from the ceiling, mic runners have disappeared. This has not only made class management more efficient but students also have more opportunities to speak out.

Mr. Yuta Baba, Denshi System Co., Ltd.

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Published February 28, 2023. Updated August 18, 2026.