Macquarie University accelerates cloud transformation with AWS

Macquarie University today announced a significant advancement in its digital transformation journey, partnering with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to create a modern, cloud-first environment that will revolutionize its technology infrastructure and services delivery.

The transformation marks a strategic shift toward native AWS services, projected to deliver a 40 percent reduction in licensing costs while introducing enhanced operational efficiencies across the university’s ecosystem. Macquarie University’s transformation will support over 40,000 students and 3,000 staff members with improved digital capabilities and innovative ways of working.

This partnership also establishes a strategic collaboration to explore innovative AI-powered solutions leveraging AWS’s advanced generative AI capabilities. The initial focus will be on developing tools to enhance student pathways and course discovery, helping students identify optimal academic and career journeys. The collaboration will utilize Amazon Bedrock and other AWS AI services to create a secure environment tailored to higher education, with sovereign capabilities for local, secure model deployment. This foundation will enable both institutions to thoughtfully explore additional student-centered use cases, setting a new standard for responsible AI adoption in higher education.

Key highlights of the transformation include:

• Implementation of a product-based approach to deliver cloud services directly to faculty, business units, academic staff, and researchers — enabling greater agility and innovation.
• Deployment of cutting-edge AWS-powered generative AI tools to streamline operations and enhance productivity.
• An investment from AWS to support research initiatives with AWS Trainium and AWS Inferentia.

“This transformation represents more than just a technology upgrade—it’s a fundamental shift in how we deliver services to our university community,” said Jonathan Covell, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Macquarie University. “By leveraging AWS’s native services and advanced capabilities, we’re building a foundation for future innovation and long-term operational sustainability.”

The university’s move to AWS will enable:

• Enhanced security through advanced AWS security services
• Improved agility with rapid deployment and scaling of resources
• Modernized service delivery through automated, self-service platforms
• Advanced research computing capabilities and data analytics
• Real-time insights for data-driven decision making

The initiative strengthens Macquarie University’s position as a leader in innovative education and learning technologies, complementing existing partnerships with Workday for enterprise systems, Snowflake for data analytics, and Salesforce for student engagement. This comprehensive ecosystem of cloud-native solutions positions the university at the forefront of digital transformation in higher education.

“Macquarie has long been an innovative and forward-thinking university in Australia’s higher education sector. This includes empowering our students and staff to achieve success through the use of emerging technologies,” said Professor Eric Knight, Deputy Vice-Chancellor People and Operations at Macquarie University.

“Our position as a technology leader is consistent with our efforts to position our research and education at the cutting edge of the fourth industrial revolution and, in doing so, making the most of our close links with the Macquarie Park Innovation District and our industry partners”.

Learn more about how AWS delivers for the public sector in Australia and New Zealand, and get in contact with us, here.

About Macquarie University 

Macquarie University, located in Sydney’s northern suburb of Macquarie Park, is one of Australia’s leading higher education institutions. Founded in 1964, Macquarie is known for its innovative approach to teaching and research, particularly in areas such as business, health sciences, and technology. Its Wallumattagal campus spans 126 hectares of parkland and features state-of-the-art facilities, including the Macquarie University Hospital, the first and only private hospital on an Australian university campus. With over 40,000 students, including a significant international student population, Macquarie offers a diverse and inclusive learning environment. The university is consistently ranked among the top 1 percent of universities worldwide and has strong connections with industry partners, providing students with valuable real-world experience through internships and research opportunities. Its distinct interdisciplinary approach to education and research has earned it a reputation for producing highly employable graduates.