Higher education software provider Ellucian has entered into an exclusive partnership with Dimension Data Australia.

The move will see Dimension Data sell Ellucian's portfolio of software and solutions and provide consulting and implementation services, supported by Dimension Data Australia's recently acquired consulting service, Oakton.

According to Jeff Ray, Ellucian president and CEO, the partnership comes at a particularly important time for Australia's higher education industry as it seeks to modernise campuses and embrace digital technologies.

Ray says the agreement will enhance the current software and services that both companies provide and will make Ellucian's cloud-based solutions more widely available to Australian's higher education providers.

“Delivering Ellucian software through the cloud means that years of carefully-developed best practices for higher education are now available on a broader scale, on a more user-friendly platform, and on a more rapid cycle of innovation,” Ray explains.

“We are so fortunate that Dimension Data Australia has the world-class services and reach to ensure customers in Australia are getting the most out of Ellucian solutions,” he says.

The education sector is Australia's largest services export, and Ray says the partnership will boost universities' ability to transform in response to the challenges of digital disruption.

 “Like much of the world, Australia is experiencing a massive economic shift away from an industrial economy and towards one driven by knowledge and information,” adds Rodd Cunico, CEO at Dimension Data Australia.

“Higher education is central to this new economy and our partnership with Ellucian is grounded in the belief that technology should, above all, empower students with the education and skills they need to succeed in today's business world,” he explains.