The winds of change in Australian higher education: reflections from THETA 2025

‍The Higher Education Technology Agenda (THETA) event took us to Perth just over a month ago – what an incredible event, full of buzz, insightful sessions and conversations and plenty of food for thought. The conference theme “Winds of change” was a great metaphor for where the sector is right now: perhaps in less choppy waters that other places, but still under significant geo-political, financial and technological pressures. Here are our key observations about where Australian institutions are at:

A sector defined by relative stability (for now)

Change is taking place across the Australian higher education landscape, particularly within IT, but perhaps not with the same speed or urgency seen in other global markets. Compared to countries like the US, UK or Canada, Australia continues to present as a relative island of tranquillity and stability. From our perspective as a global organisation working closely with institutions across all these regions, the Australian sector currently stands out as being in one of the strongest positions, both financially and geo-politically. Although this may be the view from the top of the hill, as we look closer, we see the same drivers putting pressures on higher education IT: increased demand for flexible and hybrid learning, AI adoption pressures while defining governance and rail guards, increased cybersecurity risks during a volatile geo-political environment, uncertainty in planning for the future, loss of funding in research and so many more. What stands out amid these challenging times, is that while change is bubbling up across many areas, Australian institutions are taking a more deliberate, long-term thinking, rather than reactive decision-making driven by immediate external pressures.

Strong foundations for thoughtful transformation

As the year ahead is promising a better outlook for Australian universities: a relatively stable political climate with declared affinities for the education sector, and hopes for a surge in international students as they divert from the US and Canada, the Universities Accord continues to drive reforms across the system.

This shapes the pace and character of change. It’s less about urgency and more about sustainability. Australia’s higher education sector is punching well above its weight, with world-class prestige and quality that not only need to be protected and maintained, but also evolved as technology and expectations move forward. There is a clear focus on making progress that is thought through and grounded, not just rapid for its own sake. It demonstrates long-term resilience and maturity, with a strong emphasis on designing systems and experiences that will stand the test of time.

Sustainability and impact as a strategic imperative

One example of this unique approach is the growing role that sustainability plays in Australian universities’ strategic planning. This theme was apparent in many of the conversations we had at THETA 2025. While the concept of sustainability in higher education has started to fade from focus in some other regions, in Australia it remains a prominent and active driver. Institutions are thinking not only about environmental sustainability, but also about sustaining the quality and inclusiveness of education, the resilience of technology infrastructures, and the wellbeing of students and staff. It’s not a coincidence that Australian universities top the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings again, with 3 our of the top 5 institutions: UNSW leading the ranks for the 4th year running, followed by Tasmania and Griffith on joint 4th position.

AI and data governance at the forefront

Data governance and AI are taking central stage, as universities are preparing final drafts of their AI action plans that will need to be submitted to TEQSA - the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency in July. Apart from stating their position on mitigating the risks related to GenAI, institutions are starting to reap quite a lot of its benefits, as they apply AI to teaching and learning, data analysis and increasing operational efficiency.

Building cybersecurity and sovereignty by design

This shift is not without challenges. The use of AI and LLMs by students and academics are opening up the floodgates for new cyber threats, especially as attackers use AI themselves to discover any vulnerabilities across the many digital assets universities have. It was evident at the conference that institutions are moving beyond bolt-on solutions and embedding cybersecurity and data sovereignty by design into their digital infrastructure and organisational culture. This proactive stance is helping to ensure that as digital capabilities grow, so too does the university’s ability to protect its digital assets and safeguard its communities.

Moving on from COVID-era technology

We are also seeing institutions prepare to move on from technologies and systems adopted during the pandemic. Many are nearing the end of COVID-era contracts and using this moment to re-evaluate their digital environments. There’s an openness to new solutions, with a strong appetite for improvements that simplify delivery, enhance the student experience, and reduce complexity for IT teams.

In our conversations at THETA, we were encouraged by the strong engagement from universities exploring alternative ways of delivering software and services. The feedback we received on our platform was overwhelmingly positive. What resonated most was the opportunity to simplify the end-user experience and move away from fragmented systems that often create unnecessary complications for both students and staff. The move toward cleaner, more unified technology environments is clearly underway.

Cloud strategies tailored to local realities

Cloud is getting significant traction: almost all of the institutions we spoke to have either migrated or are at varying stages of transitioning to cloud-first strategies, particularly when it comes to software management and delivery. Universities like UWA are leaders in redefining the digital experience for their students, with remote and hybrid access as standard, and a seamless digital experience for students on or off campus. Due to Australia's geography and unreliable internet access in many areas, each institution is defining its own approach and mix of cloud and on-prem infrastructure, to best match their resources, geography and demographic landscape.

Students as co-creators of their experience

The student experience is the driving force, the lodestar that drives innovation and progress, a lot more than the need for efficiency or financial constraints. Unlike in the US, where DEI is a censured term, Australia is a loud and proud supporter of equity, diversity and inclusion, and holistic and inclusive experiences are designed with students at the centre. A fertile ground for teaching and embedding Human Centred Design, Australian universities go beyond just making student-informed decisions but give students the opportunity to become an active part of their implementation through employment opportunities and peer support groups.

Supporting Australian universities through partnership

At AppsAnywhere, we see our role not just as a vendor but as a long-term partner to Australian universities during this period of thoughtful transformation. Our platform helped institutions like University of Western Australia and Queensland University of Technology streamline the way software applications are delivered to students, reducing friction, saving time, and enabling a more consistent experience, regardless of location or device.

With more than 300 higher education customers globally, we bring both international insight and local adaptability to our work, through our experienced local partner, iStrategy. And we recognise that every Australian university is on its own path, shaped by its region, its students and its priorities.

But what unites them is a shared opportunity: to use this change momentum to build robust, scalable digital ecosystems. Ecosystems that can evolve with the times, deliver exceptional student experiences, and remain resilient through whatever challenges come next.

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