Bialystok University of Technology awarded the prestigious title of “Microsoft Cloud University”

Bialystok University of Technology has joined the elite group of leaders setting standards for digitalisation in the field of higher education. The distinction is all the more valuable as it was awarded for the first time to a university in the north-eastern region of Poland. The congratulatory letter and the symbolic award granted to the University by Microsoft were received on 13 June 2022 by Assoc. Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, DSc, PhD, Eng, Rector of Bialystok University of Technology.
 
 
– Microsoft Cloud University is a university that is growing, that cares about digitalisation and students who have the opportunity to touch the latest technologies – said Barbara Michalska, Director of the Education Market at Microsoft Poland.

– Using the Microsoft Cloud gives a lot of opportunities to our teachers and our students – said Assoc. Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, DSc, PhD, Eng, Rector of Bialystok University of Technology, during a meeting with company representatives. – We are using the functionalities offered by these products more and more effectively. Due to the pandemic, we had to switch to remote learning almost overnight, and this was the first step to develop the use of new technologies in virtually all areas of university operation. Thanks to them, the organisation of education and the work of the entire university is now very flexible.

Microsoft Poland has long been observing the progress of students of Bialystok University of Technology, not only in the field of programming.

– I still remember the first competitions like the Imagine Cup, where students from Bialystok University of Technology simply won all the top prizes – Barbara Michalska emphasized the high level of education. She also recalled the international success of the Photon robot, designed and built by Bialystok University of Technology students.

– Bialystok University of Technology is first and foremost a place for talents honing and a very solid foundation for science – added Szymańska. – There is no other university in this part of the country that teaches so thoroughly both algorithm experts, developers, and in general – students of technical sciences.

Model digital transformation and innovative approach to teaching

The title of ‘Microsoft Cloud University’ is awarded to colleges and universities making exemplary use of Microsoft tools and technology in their daily academic, administrative and research activities. Bialystok University of Technology uses its technological potential and the synergy of people to create the most effective educational processes that directly affect the development of graduates’ careers, but also, by providing access to Microsoft tools, facilitates the development of the scientific potential of the academic staff, while fulfilling the teaching mission of the University.

– Bialystok University of Technology understands and continuously invests in a secure, modern and effective IT infrastructure, supporting, among other things: the work of our academic community in all its dimensions, i.e. in the process of teaching, university management and scientific research – said Marcin Rodzianko, Head of the University’s IT Centre of Bialystok University of Technology.

Technologies on a daily basis

Bialystok University of Technology has been using Microsoft’s digital tools since 2012. However, bearing in mind the growing needs, but also the opportunities for development provided to the University by the implementation of Microsoft solutions, an Office 365 A3 licence was purchased in 2021. As part of the licence, both students and staff have access to, among other things:

• the latest versions of the applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, OneNote, Outlook, Skype for Business, Publisher and Access,
• installation of Office on up to 5 of their own devices (PCs or Macs, iOS, Android or Windows mobile devices),
• 100GB email box,
• 1TB of personal OneDrive virtual storage space,
• Azure DevTools, which allow you to download various Microsoft applications (including Windows).

All of this has enabled the company’s know-how to be used more effectively for teaching, research and administrative purposes. The majority of Office 365 cloud products are actively used by the academic community, including for private purposes.

The University’s activities do not end with the provision of tools. Regular training and courses are provided to develop the digital competences of students, lecturers and staff at various levels.

The meeting was attended by the University representatives:
– Assoc. Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, DSc, PhD, Eng, Rector of Bialystok University of Technology,
– Marcin Rodzianko, Head of the University IT Centre,
– Magdalena Wasilewska, Deputy Head of the University IT Centre.

Microsoft Poland was represented by:
– Barbara Michalska, Director of the Education Market of Microsoft Poland,
– Kacper Zubrzycki, Key Account Manager for Education.

The purchase of Office365 A3 licences was financed from “ZIREG – Integrated Programme of the Białystok University of Technology for Regional Development” – a project implemented with EU funds (POWER 3.5).