NTU and Logicalis team up for IT insight

Nottingham Trent University has teamed up with Logicalis to work together on an upgrade to their campus, which includes IT from Cisco and HP.

The pair have described their partnership as "keiretsu-style" - the Japanese term for a long-term shared strategy focusing on innovation, collaboration and a "shared sense of mutuality".

In this case, the deal means NTU will have access to research and expertise from Logicalis and its partners, to help it decide on the technology to put into two buildings being redeveloped. NTU does not necessarily have to buy from Logicalis, HP or Cisco as part of the partnership.

"This is a really exciting opportunity for everyone in the university to get more of our relationship," said David Swayne, director of information systems at Nottingham Trent University

Either way, the partnership will help deliver cutting-edge IT infrastructure to the new buildings, embedded right from the beginning. NTU expects to deploy unified communications and collaboration systems for students. The new university buildings will also feature digital signage to help communicate with students.

"Quite simply, we can't enhance research, teaching and learning without considered investment in ICT," said Swayne.