Curtin University is collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to create a new digital platform foundation that will enable the transformation of digital experiences for students and staff.
As part of a multi-year strategic agreement, by the end of 2022, Curtin will be moving most of its IT systems and data into a digital platform hosted on AWS. This will enable automated IT management, provide new digital services for innovation projects, and allow for data-driven decisions across the University’s services, while reducing infrastructure costs.
Previously, Curtin had a traditional IT architecture approach, incorporating multiple data centres, resulting in fragmented IT systems, application islands, and data siloes that made it difficult for the University to innovate and build new experiences or services for students, researchers, and staff. This collaboration with AWS will provide the technology foundation to enable future innovation.
As part of the collaboration, Curtin has launched an AWS Skills Guild, called ElevateU, the first in Australia-New Zealand’s public sector. The AWS Skills Guild will equip more than 200 employees with the skills necessary to accelerate the move to the cloud and deliver new on-campus experiences leveraging AWS services such as data analytics and machine learning.
Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne said the collaboration demonstrates Curtin’s commitment to continuing to improve the student and staff experience.
“This collaboration is a great example of how the University is looking ever-forward and adopting agile processes to build the next generation of experiences for our Curtin community,” Professor Hayne said.
Curtin’s Chief Information Officer, Jason Cowie, said the collaboration supports Curtin’s vision to be the most digitally innovative university in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ).
“We are moving from fragmented and siloed systems to a self-managing platform in the cloud,” Mr Cowie said.
“Through this AWS collaboration, Curtin will be powered to deliver elevated digital experiences for students and staff and allow better insights into how to enhance campus life, enable lifelong learning, and develop a future ready workforce while ensuring their data is secure. We will use AWS’s suite of unmatched digital capabilities to enhance experiences across teaching, learning, researching and day to day operations”
AWS Australia and New Zealand Managing Director for Worldwide Public Sector, Iain Rouse said AWS supports higher education institutions like Curtin University across Australia and New Zealand to improve security, reduce costs, analyse data, and provide equitable access to teaching and learning resources.
“Cloud technology is helping Curtin University to transform course delivery, and the University is working with AWS to build an agile technology foundation to optimise student outcomes and improve staff experience,” Mr Rouse said. “By moving their entire infrastructure to the cloud, Western Australia’s largest university can deliver new projects and on-campus experiences at scale to support its vision of becoming a recognised global leader in research, education, and engagement.”
