The digital transformation at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) is not just about technology; it’s about people. It’s about advancing scholarship, enhancing pedagogical practices and supporting research excellence through innovative technology and strategic partnerships. At its heart, this transformation prioritizes the human aspect of digital change, ensuring that technological advancements are inclusive, equitable and accessible, and actively bridge the digital divide in academia.

What has made this possible is the dedication and foresight of OISE’s Education Commons team and their commitment to service excellence, collaboration and continuous learning.

Over the past three years, Education Commons has successfully migrated all systems and applications to U of T’s cloud environment. This shift has improved scalability, significantly reduced OISE’s digital footprint and strengthened cyber security. Additionally, it has freed up resources to focus on collaborating with faculty and researchers, understanding their needs and co-creating solutions.

Further, Education Commons’ adoption of real-time secure data feeds has not only improved data security but also unlocked new possibilities that weren’t available before. One notable example is the doctoral tracker, which provides up-to-date information and supports students throughout their academic journey.

In collaboration with the institutional Information Security team, Education Commons has enhanced cyber security through network segmentation, endpoint protection and the adoption of secure practices such as role-based access and segregation of duty. Additionally, by partnering with the University’s Information Technology Services team, Education Commons has eliminated redundancies and streamlined operations, achieving economies of scale and allowing greater focus on divisional priorities.

Education Commons has established itself as more than a technology provider—it is a strategic partner, enabling discovery, innovation and academic excellence at OISE and beyond. From ideation to implementation, it continues to drive digital transformation that empowers the OISE community.