You can search for courses, events, people, and anything else.
The Digital Acceleration (DX) strategic initiative is envisaged as a set of coordinated culture, planning and technology shifts that enable new education, research and innovation and operating models It is an opportunity to further leverage and build on the work and achievements of Western’s digital transformation journey to date, with intentions to transform the university’s business capabilities, making them more innovative and agile, in order to meet the changing demands of our growing community.
This Initiative has been developed to address the current challenges being experienced at Western including aging infrastructure, duplication of systems and processes, lack of integration, work stress and time-consuming activities that distract us from our core purpose.
Importantly, the DX initiative is Western-focused, complex in nature and is positioned alongside, and is supportive of, the five other initiatives that address transformation of Western’s value proposition in core business areas.
Accelerating digital transformation at Western will significantly improve our operating environment, service culture and architecture enhancing the experience for students and staff and develop profound market differentiation through leading-edge technologies.
What is DX?
Digital Acceleration (DX) includes strategies to strengthen Western’s core technologies and practices and add to our capacity and capability.
Our approach towards facilitating transformation across Western is covered by four broad areas, which has lead us to identify and undertake more than 40 major ecosystem projects, changes and applications over the next few years.
1. The first transformation looks at how IT is used and managed. We’re talking data and information management, information infrastructure, cloud-based applications, contact centre modernisation and AI pilots;
2. Education offerings is the second identified transformational area. Our learning experiences, curriculum management and customer relationship management (or CRM) systems;
3. The third key area of transformation is student engagement, recruitment and retention. This covers our Student Portal, infrastructure updates and integrations; and
4. Rounding off the four is research and innovation, which seeks to boost our research productivity and visibility. We’re looking at collaboration platforms, how we manage our research data, the commercialisation and access of our research, and promoting the public profile of our researchers.
Initiative Overview
Who we are
Executive Sponsor: Mr Darren Greentree, Vice-President Finance and Digital Services
Initiative Lead: Dr Scott Snyder, Chief Information and Digital Officer
Senior Project Officer: Ms Vidhi Trivedi, Senior Project Officer, Digital Acceleration
Program Managers: Ms Haima Prakash, Mr Mohan Visveswararajah and Ms Shayne Simpson
Western Sydney University has ranked consecutively #1 in the world (2022 & 2023) for its commitment to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Western Sydney University Transformation Program aligns with, and specifically addresses, four main SDGs: Quality Education; Decent Work and Economic Growth; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; and Partnerships for the Goals.
Here’s how the Digital Acceleration initiative is helping to achieve Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; and Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals:
- Transform how IT is used and managed through the development of an enterprise architecture, cloud strategy, replacement and contemporisation of on-premise infrastructure and tools, changes to ITDS structure, implementation of a suitable strategy and governance arrangement, and the development and implementation of a data strategy;
- Transform institutional maturity through continued growth and development of research, providing access to improved research support and methodologies, including those that can benefit from access to big data; and
- Enhance education offerings by adopting creative new pedagogic strategies, engaging with industry in curriculum co-development and reaching more students, as well as supporting a more diverse student body.
Promote Sustained, Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth, Full and Productive Employment and Decent Work for All
Build Resilient Infrastructure, Promote Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization and Foster Innovation
Strengthen the Means of Implementation and Revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
How can I learn more?
If you would like to learn more or are interested in getting involved please reach out to our Transformation Program team via our Feedback Form or email at transformationprogram@westernsydney.edu.au. Alternatively, if your query is specific to a particular project, you can contact the relevant Program Manager (see contact details in table above).
Frequently Asked Questions
The delivery of the Digital Acceleration Initiative will ensure:
- Students can access the right learning experiences at the right time to accomplish their goals through flexible academic pathways
- Educators have the tools to build contemporary curriculum which respond to emergent opportunities, and the capability to adapt and integrate technology into their practice
- Students are understood as individuals with unique interests and goals, feel welcome and connected, including and beyond academic pursuits
- Researchers can spend more time focused on outcomes, and less time managing digital inputs
- Students and staff save time by quickly and easily completing administrative and academic tasks from anywhere at any time
- Western has the culture and capability to innovate quickly at the edge of technology
The Board of Trustees have approved this Initiative as part of the Transformation Program for 5 years (commencing 2021). They have approved funding for 3 years, with the option to fund a further 2 years.
Staff and students will have opportunities to provide input and collaborate on different activities within the Program.
If you are unsure who to contact or are would like further assistance please reach out to our Transformation Program team via our Feedback Form or email at transformationprogram@westernsydney.edu.au
Staff can also join our Transformation Program Viva Engage Community.
*Note this link is for Western staff access only.
