Durham-University-Microsoft-Written-Case-Study Final
- 1. University improves research, colleague collaboration and operational efficiency with new communication platform “Microsoft Lync removes the barriers to collaboration, to support excellence in Research & Teaching” Dr Carolyn Brown, Chief Information Officer, Durham University Durham University is the third oldest University in England and has 17,505 students. It provides over 200 courses across three faculties and supports numerous different research programmes. Better communication and efficiency Durham University is proud to be shaped by the past, and creating the future. It is committed to excellence in all aspects of research and education. As part of its New World Programme (a four year programme to “re,boot” all IT services), the University set out to improve communication between academic staff, postgraduate researchers (PGRs) and industrial partners, to engender collaboration across its different sites, so staff could share and discuss content easily, and to reduce its carbon footprint by reducing travel. Improved local and international collaboration Durham University has rolled out Microsoft Lync enterprise,wide to over 8,000 staff and PGRs, following a pilot with 700 users. Staff and PGRs can now connect via voice, video call, desk,share and instant messaging, as well as participating in online meetings from anywhere in the world. The academic staff have been very positive, “Lync has proved excellent in my experience for teleconferencing with colleagues when I have been away from Durham” states Professor Tim Burt, Master of Hatfield College, Professor of Geography, Dean for Environmental Sustainability. Durham University is internationally recognised for world,class research and teaching. It's currently ranked as one of the top 100 Universities worldwide and its triple accredited business school is ranked within the top 35. Results: • Improved, collaborative research • Reduced travel cost and carbon footprint • More efficient meetings and increased productivity • More effective support teams • Improved part,time student education Industry: Education Country: UK Number of Users: 700 increasing to 8,000 Technology Environment: • Microsoft Lync Connect with Durham University: www.durham.ac.uk
- 2. This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. Document published May 2015 Improved, collaborative research Researchers in areas such as Law, Physics and Chemistry are now able to work with academic colleagues more effectively, from any location. Alex Dudgeon, a Postgraduate Researcher in Chemistry explains, “It was useful to discover that colleagues in industry were using Lync too – to be able to talk to people outside of the University and ask quick questions that are just that – quick! – via instant messaging. The ability to share screens on the fly just adds to the convenience.” Improving education for part,time students Lync has encouraged and enabled both academics and students to push the existing boundaries, and in doing so uncovered innovative ways to enhance the quality of their educational journey. Academic staff are now able to make part time students feel more involved, and can provide even better learning experiences. "With Microsoft Lync I am able to include part time students in seminars and discussions with their full time colleagues very easily. They're really glad to feel included." states Dr Andrew Joyce,Gibbons, School of Education. Efficient meetings and increased productivity Staff can attend meetings using a laptop, PC or mobile device, avoiding the need to travel and helping the University reduce its carbon footprint. The University is based on two campuses, the Stockton campus being roughly 45 minutes away from Durham. So a one hour meeting can take 2.5 hours out of the working day. Richard Fahey, Head of Technical Services highlighted that, ”Microsoft Lync is helping to ensure that spending is on research and education rather than travel and related administration.” Part of the New World for Durham Lync is a real step forward in Durham University’s journey to improving the experience for all staff, students and collaborators via its New World Programme. The project team is now looking ahead to Skype for Business in the summer of 2015. A big improvement for users and for IT services From the Lync project team: Alaric Pritchard Collaboration Project Manager states, “IT staff no longer need to visit multiple buildings on campus to help people. They can simply share screens in real!time which improves the support process and is more time efficient.” The enthusiasm for adoption of Microsoft Lync has been significant, Andrew Stansfield, Technical Lead, Durham University, explains, “Before we’ve even finished the demo we get people asking when and how they can get access, it’s brilliant!”