KPMG & Ellucian form alliance to boost student solutions

Ellucian has announced a new alliance with KPMG Australia aimed at helping tertiary education institutions streamline operations and adopt innovative technology to improve student outcomes.

The partnershi[ brings together Ellucian's expertise in education technology with KPMG Australia's advisory services and deep experience in the sector.

Both companies say the collaboration is designed to enhance the operational efficiency of higher education institutions and strengthen their ability to support student success.

"Combining KPMG Australia's advisory and enablement expertise with our innovative technology strengthens our offerings in the sector," said Jeff Dinski, Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer at Ellucian. "We want to empower institutions and give them the confidence to embrace transformation for improved student outcomes."

The alliance enables KPMG Australia to join the Ellucian Partner Network (EPN), a global ecosystem designed to facilitate collaboration between Ellucian and its partners to better meet the needs of tertiary education providers.

Ellucian's Banner Software as a Service (SaaS) Student Information System will be a key part of the offering.

The system is designed to simplify administrative processes while delivering high availability, resilience, security, and a more user-friendly experience. Banner is currently in use at over 1,400 institutions worldwide and is positioned as a core platform for managing student information and improving operational efficiency.

KPMG Australia brings its Global Student Success Practice to the partnership, which offers institutions access to specialist capabilities in student engagement and management. The team has delivered a number of large-scale digital transformation projects in the Australian education sector.

"How institutions engage and manage their students can have a significant effect on their local and global brand and their current and future revenues," said Morgan McCullough, National & Global Education Lead Partner at KPMG Australia. "We want to help institutions meet the expectations of their diverse student cohort and operate more efficiently, enabled by innovative technology."

The alliance is intended to offer faster implementation and realisation of value for institutions investing in new technology, with both organisations focused on helping universities adapt to a "student-first, digital and cost-conscious environment."

Ellucian and KPMG Australia say that by joining forces, they will be better equipped to address the evolving challenges faced by Australian higher education institutions, especially as they seek to modernise systems, enhance the student experience, and remain competitive globally.

The move reflects broader trends within the education sector, where institutions are increasingly looking for digital solutions that are agile, scalable and focused on improving outcomes for students. With ongoing pressure to deliver greater value, universities are prioritising transformation initiatives that can help them stay responsive to both student needs and market demands.

While financial terms of the alliance were not disclosed, both companies affirmed their commitment to a long-term partnership that leverages their respective strengths to benefit the Australian higher education landscape.