Aston University, a leader in academic innovation, is working with Transparity and Microsoft to unlock the power of AI at scale. This partnership is revolutionising how the university operates, boosting efficiency and supercharging cutting-edge research.
The challenge
Higher Education faces a tough balancing act. Universities need to deliver world-class teaching and research, all while cutting administrative heavy lifting and preparing for an AI-first future.
For Aston University, the goal wasn’t just to switch on Microsoft 365 Copilot. They wanted to do it responsibly, securely, and at scale. They needed to:
- Lock down strong data governance and security
- Drive genuine adoption across the university, not just hand out licenses
- Pinpoint high-impact AI use cases that actually contribute to their 2030 strategy
- Build internal confidence and capability across academic and professional teams.
The solution
Aston University have partnered with Transparity to deploy Copilot in close collaboration with Microsoft.
By combining strategy, governance, adoption, and technical delivery, we focused on outcomes that matter:
- Security & Governance: We mapped out a plan to ensure Copilot and AI agents operate safely and responsibly
- AI Discovery: We ran Envisioning Workshops with IT and business leaders to prioritise the most impactful use cases
- Leadership Buy-In: We’re building executive confidence through targeted immersion and Change Management programmes
- Rapid Impact: We designed and built Copilot Studio agents to deliver early, tangible results
- Value Tracking: We set up robust analytics to measure adoption, ROI, and long-term success.
“Transparity have approached this project with a spirit of pragmatism and with a ‘can do’ attitude. They bring a dynamic and agile approach to our transformation projects and have demonstrated the right blend of governance and action”
James Longmore, Director of Digital Services at Aston University
The outcome
Aston University is leading the charge as the first university in the Midlands to roll out Microsoft 365 Copilot across its staff.
By automating repetitive tasks, Aston will free up crucial time for teaching, research, and innovation. They are equipping their staff and students with future-ready AI skills whilst building a secure, responsible foundation that perfectly aligns with their institutional strategy.
“Aston University’s approach to Copilot is exactly what good AI adoption in Higher Education should look like – strategic, responsible, and focused on real outcomes for staff and students. We’re proud to be supporting Aston alongside Microsoft as they embed AI at scale, freeing up time for teaching and research while building future ready skills across the University.”
Josh Hutchison, Business Development Manager, Education at Transparity
