Creating a Connected Campus with a Single Source of Truth
Insights from the University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is one of the UK’s largest universities, home to over 9,000 staff and 39,000 students. Ranked among the world’s top 75 universities, it’s an institution driven by a mission to make a real difference.
A key part of the university’s ‘Universal Values, Global Change’ strategy is digital transformation—using technology to enhance the way people work and communicate. As part of this effort, the Internal Communications team commissioned an external review of their communication channels. The findings revealed a fragmented landscape, with information spread across the public website, social media platforms like X (Twitter), and a tangle of ungoverned SharePoint sites.
To address these challenges, the university set out to create a single, dedicated internal communications platform—a single source of truth designed to provide a clearer, more consistent experience for staff.
What To Expect From The Webinar
In this webinar, Chris Hewitt, Head of Internal Communications at the University of Leeds, shares insights from this journey. He’ll discuss the key challenges, what it took to get leadership buy-in, the lessons learned along the way, and what’s next for the university’s digital strategy.
Plus, we’ll share our own insights on how Microsoft 365 can create a unified digital workplace for any university.
If you’re navigating a similar transformation in higher education, this session is packed with practical takeaways to help you on your way.
We’ll cover:
• Getting Leadership Buy-In: How to make a strong case for change, align your vision with strategic priorities, and secure support from senior leaders
• IC & IT Collaboration: How to overcome the barriers between internal communications and IT teams working together
• Bringing Staff on the Journey: Strategiess to engage university staff, address concerns, and ensure widespread adoption of a new internal communications platform
• Lessons Learned & Best Practices: Key takeaways from the University of Leeds’ journey, including what worked, what they’d do differently, and essential considerations for creating a single source of truth
• Microsoft 365 in Higher Education: How M365 tools like SharePoint, Viva, Power Platform & Copilot combine to create a unified digital workplace that streamlines campus communications and operations
Your Speakers
Chief Visionary Officer & M365 Expert
Silicon Reef
Head of Internal Communications
University of Leeds