By Rebecca Gibson |
The University of Leicester has become one of the first universities in the UK to provide all students and staff with full access to Microsoft 365 Copilot.
The institution, which is one of the first Microsoft Frontier universities, will implement AI across teaching, learning, research and professional services. This will enable more than 4,000 staff and 21,000 students to improve collaboration and work more productively and efficiently.
“AI is already transforming the way we teach, learn, research and engage with each other – and if we want to remain a world-leading and inclusive university it is vital that we become early adopters and embrace the opportunity for change,” said Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah, president and vice chancellor at the University of Leicester. “This initiative is about future-proofing our university and our people. About augmenting our community – the ability to work effectively with AI will be an essential skill in the years ahead. By embedding these tools now, we are ensuring that Leicester staff are well placed to adapt, lead and thrive in an evolving AI landscape, and that our students are ready to meet the demands of any future workplace.”
Rolling out AI is also part of the university’s efforts to help students to develop the skills they need to succeed in the AI-driven workplace. Every undergraduate also receives 100 hours of employer-informed, work-related learning during their degree.
“AI is reshaping the world of work students are stepping into, and the universities that prepare their communities now will define the next generation of talent,” said Jen Wyatt, director of education at Microsoft UK. “Leicester’s decision to give all students and staff full access to Microsoft 365 Copilot reflects a genuine commitment to future-ready skills. We’re proud to support an institution that pairs ambition with responsibility.”
Read more: University of Manchester becomes first in the world to roll out Microsoft 365 Copilot for entire institution