​​Maximize Your NI LabVIEW Academic Volume License (AVL) Benefits​

Overview

​​​​This page details the benefits included in the LabVIEW for Academic Use Academic Volume License (AVL), or LabVIEW AVL, to help universities and software administrators effectively leverage NI software, training, and certification resources. Learn how to make the most of your AVL to support STEM education, streamline software access, and enhance professional development.​

Contents

​Comprehensive NI Software Access

​With the LabVIEW AVL, universities gain access to the majority of NI’s software across campus, enabling departments to utilize a unified platform for teaching, research, and lab work. Faculty and students can work on data acquisition, embedded systems, and control design with professional industry software, fostering cross-departmental collaboration and broadening the scope of projects. Review the software included in the LabVIEW AVL.

​Software administrators can review Academic Volume License Administrator Resources for specifics on how to distribute licenses.

  • ​With every license, institutions can install all software in the AVL on a university-owned machine. For shared teaching labs and research labs, you will only need licenses for the total number of computers to access all software in the suite.
  • ​Universities are also granted many serial numbers to give students to use for 13 months. This allows students to access professional-grade software on their personal computers for classwork, research, and projects. 

​Note: Students can access the LabVIEW Professional edition via the LabVIEW Community edition. Otherwise, any other access to NI’s software portfolio should be assigned via the Student Install Option (SIO) serial numbers in the AVL. 

​Key Usage Examples

  • ​Engineering and technology curriculum integration—Faculty can incorporate LabVIEW and other NI software into lab exercises and course projects, especially in engineering and technology programs. This hands-on experience prepares students for industry use, aligning with real-world applications. Students can learn data acquisition, instrument control, and measurement systems by using LabVIEW in lab courses on embedded systems, robotics, and control engineering.
  • Research and development projects—Research teams can leverage the full suite for R&D initiatives. The software supports data analysis, automation, and complex experiment setups, making it ideal for research in areas like machine learning, renewable energy, biomedical engineering, and more.
  • ​Simulation and prototyping for senior and capstone projects—Senior and capstone project teams who use the software for rapid prototyping, simulation, and testing are prepared to handle industry-grade software tools before graduation. Students can prototype control systems, simulate circuit designs, or build IoT solutions that connect sensors and actuators through LabVIEW and NI hardware, gaining practical, industry-relevant skills.
  • ​Workshops and skill-building programs for students and faculty—Host workshops to train students and faculty on the software, using the on-demand training resources available through the AVL. This increases proficiency and keeps skills current within the institution.

 

​Education Services Credits for Certifications and Professional Development

​Education Services Credits (ESC) included in the AVL can be applied toward NI certifications, such as the Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer (CLAD) exam, or for virtual, instructor-led training. This benefit supports professional development, allowing institutions to invest in their students’ and faculty’s credentials and enhancing students’ readiness for industry roles.

Learn how to use Education Services Credits.

​Key Usage Examples

  • CLAD as a mid-semester or end-of-semester exam—Use credits to make the CLAD certification exam the culminating assessment for students in relevant courses, such as data acquisition, control systems, or engineering design. This ensures students graduate with valuable credentials and real-world skills.
  • ​Workshop and training series for campus-wide impact—Organize certification-focused workshops or training series for faculty and students to create a campus-wide culture of learning and certification. For example, the university could host a week-long LabVIEW workshop, concluding with CLAD exam preparation, funded entirely through credits.
  • ​Faculty certifications for enhanced teaching—Faculty can use credits to earn certifications that validate their expertise in LabVIEW and other NI software tools, ensuring credibility and confidence in integrating the tools into coursework.

​Scalable Licensing Options with Cost Efficiency

​The AVL provides volume-based discounts, enabling universities to reduce the cost per seat compared to single-seat licenses. This flexible licensing model allows institutions to easily scale access across the campus as enrollment and usage grow, ensuring students and faculty have uninterrupted access to LabVIEW and other NI software.

​Key Usage Examples

  • ​Broad access for introductory and advanced courses—Use scalable licensing to provide access to LabVIEW across all academic levels, from introductory courses to advanced capstone projects to research labs. This ensures students and faculty have the tools they need without limitations on user count.
  • ​Support for cross-departmental collaboration—Enable multiple departments, such as physics, chemistry, and computer science, to access LabVIEW under a single license, promoting interdisciplinary projects and cost-sharing.
  • ​Scalable licensing for growing enrollment—Adjust the number of seats at renewal as student enrollment in engineering and technology programs grows, ensuring all students and faculty have uninterrupted access to the software.