Higher education institutions are under increasing pressure to modernise core enterprise platforms while improving student experience, strengthening compliance, and achieving sustainable cost models. At Charles Sturt University (CSU), the Student Management Technology Project (SMTP) was established as a three‑year, business‑led transformation focused beyond system implementation on strengthening organisational capability through strong governance, clear benefits ownership, and a deliberately balanced partnership model.SMTP moves beyond system implementation to an enterprise transformation that is business-led and enabled through internal and external partnership with university IT and SMEs, TechnologyOne and KPMG. CSU retains ownership of vision, outcomes, governance, and benefits realisation, while leveraging partner expertise to accelerate delivery, apply sector insight, and enable technology in a way that supports long‑term sustainability.

The partnership operating model brings CSU, TechnologyOne, and KPMG together within a structure that emphasises shared accountability, transparency, and joint problem‑solving. Governance arrangements support informed decision‑making across institutional priorities, enterprise architecture, and delivery constraints, ensuring technology decisions remain driven by business outcomes.Benefits led delivery underpins the program. Clear benefit profiles were defined early and aligned to outcomes including integrated student self-service, streamlined and standardised administrative processes, improved staff experience, reduced cost to serve, and enhanced real time reporting and compliance visibility. Business benefit owners remain accountable beyond go live, supported by TechnologyOne and KPMG in capability uplift, assurance, and transition to sustainable business as usual operations.

The presentation will share CSU’s experience governing a multi-party, business led transformation, offering practical insights for institutions seeking to collaborate effectively while retaining strategic control and delivering enduring outcomes.