357: Live from the HETMA Roadshow in Mechelen, Belgium

In this special live episode from the HETMA Roadshow in Mechelen, Belgium, Joe Way wraps up HETMA’s first European Roadshow with conversations from the show floor at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences. The episode captures the energy, lessons, and excitement of a milestone event that brought higher education AV professionals, university leaders, and manufacturer partners together to build community, share challenges, and explore the future of learning spaces in Europe.Joe opens the episode by reflecting on the success of the two-day Roadshow and the clear desire across the European higher ed AV community for more opportunities like this. While HETMA has built a proven Roadshow model in North America, this event showed that the same need for connection, collaboration, and shared problem-solving exists across Europe, even as the format must be adapted to fit regional culture, expectations, and community dynamics.The first conversation features Darta from Catchbox, who shares how Catchbox has grown beyond its iconic throwable microphone into a broader microphone and audio system for education spaces. She discusses the value of simple, teacher-friendly technology, including the Catchbox Cube, Clip microphone, handheld microphone, receiver, and built-in DSP capabilities. The conversation highlights how reducing complexity for instructors also reduces support tickets for AV teams.Joe then sits down with Tom from Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, one of the key leaders behind hosting the Roadshow. Tom reflects on the intentional design of the university’s newest building, explaining that technology should enhance learning rather than force teachers to adapt to technology. The discussion centers on purposeful design, student comfort, long-term thinking, and the impressive retractable LED wall that became one of the standout features of the campus tour.Next, Kenny from Thomas More joins the conversation to talk about the behind-the-scenes work required to make the event successful. He shares how the university’s AV team supports multiple campuses while maintaining a shared vision and strong internal trust. Kenny emphasizes that events like the Roadshow create the rare opportunity for peers to step away from their daily work, compare challenges, and learn directly from one another.Joe also speaks with Mia, Director of Infrastructure and Facilities at Thomas More, following her keynote on the university’s approach to educational infrastructure. She explains the guiding principles behind their learning spaces, including community, ease of learning, desire to learn, sustainability, and innovation. Her perspective reinforces one of the strongest themes of the episode: the best learning spaces begin with the student and teacher experience, not the technology.The episode continues with conversations from several manufacturer partners, including Sennheiser, Crestron, Biamp, and Extron. Across these conversations, recurring themes emerge around ease of use, stability, security, inclusiveness, audio quality, hybrid learning, room consistency, USB-C integration, standardization, and the importance of long-term manufacturer support. Each partner reflects on the value of being able to meet directly with higher education professionals in a community-centered environment rather than a traditional sales-first setting.A major theme throughout the episode is that higher education institutions across regions face many of the same challenges. Whether in North America or Europe, AV teams are working to create frictionless rooms, support hybrid and active learning, stretch technology investments over longer lifecycles, reduce support complexity, and make spaces more inclusive and sustainable. The Roadshow format gives these professionals a place to compare notes, share ideas, and build relationships that continue after the event ends.The episode closes with Joe reflecting on the overall success of the first European HETMA Roadshow. The conversations, campus tour, vendor showcase, keynote sessions, and networking moments all point toward a clear conclusion: the spark has been lit. The European higher ed AV community is ready for more connection, more collaboration, and more opportunities to come together through HETMA.Guests FeaturedDarta, CatchboxDiscusses Catchbox’s expanding microphone ecosystem, including the Cube, Clip microphone, handheld microphone, receiver, and built-in DSP.Tom, Thomas More University of Applied SciencesReflects on hosting the first European HETMA Roadshow and the intentional design of Thomas More’s newest learning spaces.Kenny, Thomas More University of Applied SciencesShares the behind-the-scenes perspective on organizing the event and the value of bringing peers together.Mia, Thomas More University of Applied SciencesExplains the educational infrastructure strategy behind Thomas More’s learning spaces, with a focus on student and teacher experience.Stefan, SennheiserHighlights the importance of education as a vertical, along with ease of use, stability, inclusiveness, acoustics, and listening fatigue.William, CrestronDiscusses the importance of networking, understanding customer needs, and supporting the future of educational environments.Peter, BiampTalks about frictionless rooms, consistent user experiences, post-pandemic AV maturity, and long-term technology quality.Leon Klinger, ExtronShares insights on USB-C standardization, BYOD and BYOM applications, signal switching, and the importance of early manufacturer engagement.Key TakeawaysThe first European HETMA Roadshow demonstrated a strong need for regional higher ed AV community-building.Technology should support teaching and learning in a seamless way, not become the center of the experience.Simple, reliable, teacher-friendly systems reduce support burden and improve classroom outcomes.European institutions are facing familiar challenges around hybrid learning, room standardization, USB-C, sustainability, and long-term support.The most successful learning spaces begin with students, teachers, pedagogy, and intentional design.Manufacturer partnerships are strongest when they are built on trust, support, training, and long-term relationships.The HETMA Roadshow model has strong potential to grow across Europe when adapted through local leadership and cultural understanding.Episode ThemesHigher ed AV community-buildingEuropean learning space designHETMA Roadshow expansionStudent-centered infrastructureTeacher-friendly technologyUSB-C and classroom standardizationHybrid learning and BYOD/BYOM spacesAudio quality and listening fatigueSustainability and long-term planningManufacturer and university partnerships