SSUET takes lead in migrating to Office 365 application of Microsoft Cloud

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, has become the first academic institution of the country to migrate on Office 365 application of Microsoft Cloud, the technology now being used globally. 

In this regard a ceremony was held at the SSUET in which the Office 365, the latest cloud technology of Microsoft, was formally launched by Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Jawaid Hasan Rizvi. 

In a detailed presentation on the occasion Zafar-ul-Islam, Microsoft Technology Expert, Asia Pacific Region, stated that this facility is provided by Microsoft free of cost to academic and research institutions all over the world. A team of SSUET networking staff had been working with Microsoft to transfer SSUET email service to Office 365. 

"This has been a major undertaking that includes changes to our authentications system, grouping and training", Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jawaid Rizvi, remarked while inaugurating the services by clicking the computer button. 

He acknowledged the networking and server room staff for having worked hard for a successful migration and many of them have already received training on the new cloud technology. 

This is an important step towards transfer and adoption of high tech cloud technology for which direction and timeline of year 2015 have been given by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to the member public and private sector universities, he pointed out adding that SSUET is also the partner of Microsoft Software Strategic Alliance through the HEC. 

In his welcome address Abdul Moid Khan, System Manager SSUET, said that they had been working with Microsoft, its local and international support is available all the way in this project. By transfer of the SSUET network services on Microsoft Cloud, the SSUET will enter into the world of paperless environment and will enjoy following high tech facilities free of cost. 

In his presentation, Zafar-ul-Islam dilated upon in detail the salient features of the technology and its applications in various academic, commercial and business fields, including Exchange online (For Emails on SSUET domain ), outlook Web app (Outlook Web version) Lync online (For Video Conferencing and messaging) and SharePoint Portal Online (Complete Document Management System).

He informed that Migration on Microsoft Office 365 is widely adapted globally, especially in academic environment, as Microsoft is providing these services free of cost to all academic institutions like Duke University, Emory University, Thomas Jefferson University, University of Iowa and University of Washington chose Office 365 for education and next-generation cloud productivity services. 

He said that many universities in Pakistan are working on this project. However, it is a big achievement that SSUET is the first in academic sector in Pakistan with more than 7000+ accounts to adopt and transfer on Office 365 cloud. 

The Associate Dean SSUET, Dr Najib Siddiqui, said that it is the latest technology adopted by SSUET and it will take this institution to new horizons providing support to imparting modern education to its students. 

Zafar-ul-Islam explained the top 10 business and technical priorities, highlighted the importance of education and said that technology play an important role in it as well as development of society and economy as a whole besides industrial skills. 

On the occasion, Mr Anas Kidwai, Project Coordinator Microsoft Innovation Center, gave a presentation on Microsoft and Academia Collaboration.