Bridging strategy and action: Insights from our analyst event at UEL

Last weeks analyst event at the University of East London (UEL) was a moment to step back, reflect, and engage in thought-provoking discussions about the future of higher education. Bringing together industry, analyst, and university leaders in a setting where digital transformation is already unfolding made the exchange particularly meaningful. 

UEL’s net zero journey is more than a sustainability commitment. It’s a blueprint for the smart, sustainable campus and a prime example of how strategic partnerships between HEIs and industry can drive meaningful change. I'm always inspired walking through the campus seeing first-hand how integrated technology is driving measurable impact, cutting emissions by 10% per year, creating opportunities for students to benefit from every step we take and to create a living laboratory acting as a test bed for green innovation.

I had the opportunity to outline Siemens’ global higher education strategy and to gain feedback from the industry analyst experts. The discussion focused around how to connect digital intelligence with physical infrastructure to enhance three core areas: 

• Student experience – Creating adaptable, student-centric campuses that offer safe, comfortable, sustainable, and inspiring environments 

• Decarbonisation – Delivering smart energy solutions that help universities optimize energy use, efficiency, and costs to drive a sustainable campus 

• Smart digital campus – Using data-driven intelligence for autonomous and efficient workflows and operation of campus buildings and infrastructure 

At the heart of this transformation is the power of digital building platforms and ecosystems. With Building X and the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of digital solutions, universities gain a holistic and interoperable approach to campus modernisation. These platforms provide real-time energy and operational data, allowing institutions to optimise resource efficiency, enhance student experiences, and meet sustainability goals. By integrating renewable generation, microgrids, and electrification strategies with intelligent building management, universities can create resilient, future-proof campuses that adapt dynamically to changing needs. 

To illustrate this approach, we highlighted three practical applications already implemented through our partnerships and collaborations with various HEIs. Occupancy-based campus optimisation is ensuring that learning spaces are used efficiently by adjusting in real-time to actual demand. AI-driven analytics allow universities to fine-tune their facilities, making sure that classrooms, labs, and communal areas are neither overcrowded nor underutilised. Meanwhile, smart building and energy management solutions are automating resource efficiency across entire estates. By connecting HVAC, lighting, and energy grids into a unified system, institutions gain real-time insights and predictive capabilities that enhance performance while reducing operational costs. Finally, green and smart laboratories demonstrate how energy-intensive research environments can be made more sustainable. By optimising ventilation, cooling, and equipment usage, universities can reduce waste without compromising research excellence. 

The analyst discussion provoked a key query on the importance of scalability – how can we take what’s working in one case and apply it at scale across global higher education institutions? Analysts also highlighted the strategic role of partnerships: initiatives like our collaboration with UEL don’t just deliver sustainability wins; they strengthen industry reputation, create talent pipelines, and generate positive momentum in policy and funding discussions. This was nicely described by John Raspin from Frost & Sullivan;

“It's clear that UEL is setting ambitious decarbonisation goals and wants to create a culture and environment to enhance student experience.  What Siemens is doing with UEL shows us how innovative technologies, collaborative working and a holistic approach to problem solving bring positive sustainability outcomes and significant cost and carbon savings."

Our strategic partnership with UEL recently earned the prestigious Net Zero Leader Award, underscoring the impact of strong partnerships. But this is just the beginning. As universities navigate a fast-changing landscape, the conversation is shifting from why digitalisation matters to how quickly we can implement it. 

The Higher Education Analyst event reinforced that we’re on the right path, and I’m excited to continue driving this transformation toward smarter, more sustainable campuses with our partners worldwide.