University IT is notoriously complex both to procure and operate.
Universities are almost like small cities regarding the breadth and depth of their IT requirements, supporting online learning, research, student engagement, facilities management, enrollment systems, campus events, HR, payroll, security – and all the rest! Between us, in our roles, we support institutions of all sizes across Europe. We have seen how frustrating it can be for staff when they face barriers to accessing specialist expertise and the knowledge they need to do their jobs with impact. This also rings true for the students they aim to serve.
During the height of the pandemic, “the new normal” was used to suggest that the pivot to emergency online and hybrid learning would have – albeit slightly adapted – a longer-term impact on the working practices of universities. And while the focus of many of these predictions and conversations was initially on the learning experience for students, we also saw fundamental changes across staff working practices.
