The University of Leeds is one of the UK’s leading universities, with a global network of 360,000 graduates in 197 countries and an international student body that comprises over 39% of its total student population. Ranked 77th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, which marks its ninth consecutive year in the global top 100, Leeds has built a formidable global reputation for teaching, sustainability, and international research collaborations.
As digital services become increasingly central to university life, the quality, resilience and security of campus connectivity are critical. Students, academics and professional services teams at the University rely on IT every day, from accessing learning resources and collaborating on research, to supporting hybrid working and delivering core services. Furthermore, with the higher education sector facing increasing cyber threats, it was critical to strengthen its ability to protect the organisation while continuing to support the openness, collaboration and academic freedom that underpins both research and teaching.
Through this contract, Roc will help the University transform its network environment and provide a managed service designed to improve performance, resilience, security and operational efficiency. The solution will use the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Mist platform to take advantage of AI-driven networking capabilities, including automation, self-healing and simplified management, shifting focus away from day-to-day maintenance and towards innovation, education and improved user experience.
Roc was selected for its extensive higher education experience, strong sector understanding and partnership-led approach. Its ability to support a hybrid environment during transition was also central to the award, helping reduce disruption for students, staff and academics while the transformation takes place.
Peter Halifax, Chief Technology Officer at the University of Leeds said:
“Reliable, secure and high-performing connectivity is fundamental to the experience of our students, staff and academic community. This partnership with Roc Technologies will help us modernise our network environment, improve resilience and support the University’s long-term ambitions for innovation, research and education.”
Matt Franklin, Roc Technologies, said:
“We are delighted to be working with the University of Leeds on this important network transformation and managed service programme. Higher education institutions need technology environments that are resilient, secure and flexible, while also enabling innovation and academic freedom. Our experience across the sector means we understand the complexity of that challenge, and we look forward to supporting Leeds as it continues to deliver an outstanding digital experience for its global community.”