This blog was kindly contributed by Peter Nikoletatos, TechnologyOne Education General Manager and Adjunct Professor at La Trobe University.
UK universities are facing tough times ahead, dealing with issues such as a cost-of-living crisis, limits on international student numbers, an increase in part-time students, and ever-rising costs. However, they are not facing these challenges in isolation. Despite the geographical distance between the UK and Australia, we share more common ground than we might think.
This was clearly on display during TechnologyOne’s recent OneEducation Global Mobility Program, a one-of-a-kind international program that saw senior leaders from the London School of Economics, Leicester University, University of Hertfordshire, Buckingham University, Royal Holloway University of London, Kingston University and Bradford University meet with their Australian counterparts to compare notes and learn from digital transformation initiatives at four Australian campuses: Perth’s Curtin University, Melbourne’s Victoria University, Brisbane’s Queensland University of Technology and Sydney’s Macquarie University.
The immersive program gave UK participants a chance to see how their Australian counterparts are creating programs to attract, engage and retain students. Here are five key learnings:
Victoria University’s block model
Melbourne’s Victoria University (VU) is one of only six universities in Australia to offer courses in both further and higher education. Their unique and award-winning VU Block Model sees students study one subject at a time in four-week blocks, allowing for interactive, workshop-style classes better tailored to each student.
With a focus on student-centricity, there are no lecture theatres, a maximum of 30 students per session and a focus on collaborative learning. Every session is recorded and timetabling is built to suit students who have part-time jobs.
This innovative approach is designed to enhance learning and to address the cost of living. By offering flexible scheduling and a more manageable workload, the VU Block Model enables students to better balance their academic commitments with part-time work, ultimately providing crucial support in alleviating financial pressures. The Global Mobility Program cohort agreed this model could be instrumental in helping students navigate the economic challenges that come with higher education.
Curtin University’s case for talent attraction and retention
Having come from outside of the public sector with significant industry experience, the CIO of Perth’s Curtin University challenges the operating models of higher education institutions from within.
When it comes to talent retention, he believes universities should move away from a model of pay banding for professional services in order to attract and retain talent with business experience, who can disrupt institutions as necessary.
When we consider the fact that some 15,000 UK academics have left the industry since 2014, partly as a result of pay that’s failed to keep up with the cost of living, the conversation certainly has merit.
A focus on ROI at QUT
At Queensland University of Technology (QUT), a public research university located in the coastal city of Brisbane, the university mandates that all IT project proposals include detailed benefit forecasts, with ongoing tracking of these benefits for approved projects. This approach ensures that the institution maintains a focus on delivering tangible outcomes from its technology investments.
This helped clearly show for example how the university’s consolidation of its finance systems yielded cost benefits and how a redesigned service model helped streamline operations and enhance efficiency.
From QUT’s omni-channel contact centre responsible for promoting the use of Office365 and monitoring student feedback to a digitised card system and a mobile app to support students, staff and visitors, the focus is all on the integration of digital tools and enhanced support structures to optimise both operational effectiveness and user experience.
Macquarie University’s digital world
Last but not least, the Global Mobility Program group visited Macquarie University in Sydney, to learn about the significant digital transformation led by their CIO. Over the past two decades, the university has grown substantially, with student numbers increasing from 16,000 to 44,000. The university views IT as a provider of digital services rather than just a systems operator, reflecting a strategic shift towards enhancing digital experiences.
Several key points emerged from the session. Currently, 10% of the university’s revenue is allocated to the IT budget, with plans to increase this percentage annually to support ongoing infrastructure upgrades and the delivery of a seamless digital experience for students. Notably, 90% of their workloads have transitioned away from on-premises systems, generating significant cost savings. The IT team is effectively managing all aspects of digital strategy without shadow IT, ensuring solutions meet the needs of faculties and business users.
Digital transformation is an imperative
As UK universities look for ways to address rising costs, spending money on new technology may seem counterintuitive, however when you consider the total cost of ownership and benefits, the data clearly shows that campuses that invest in their digital infrastructure have higher student wellbeing scores as well as increased academic performance, retention and graduation rates.
The key lies in data, for data-driven insights can help drive measurable improvements in student outcomes and enhanced operational efficiencies. By harnessing analytics and reporting functionalities, Australian institutions leverage automation for efficiencies. It also allows them to monitor academic performance trends, personalise learning experiences and optimise resource allocation – all contributing to the overarching goal of improving student success metrics. This focus on outcomes underscores the transformative impact of IT projects within educational settings, ultimately shaping a more responsive and effective learning ecosystem.
But legacy platforms get in the way. While UK has some of the finest academic institutions, most still operate their student administrative services on-premise rather than software as a Service, which causes them to miss out on many benefits, including agility, automation, scalability, cybersecurity, efficiencies, not to mention costs savings.
With thanks
The contributions of our host universities were instrumental in creating an immersive learning environment during this Global Mobility Program. Through engaging presentations, campus tours showcasing digital innovations and cultural exchanges, these institutions exemplified a commitment to excellence in leveraging technology for educational advancement.
I also extend my heartfelt gratitude to all esteemed guests who participated in this enriching program. Their presence, engagement and contributions have greatly enriched our discussions and provided invaluable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing higher education today.