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Microsoft 365 Copilot rollout: Teaching, Research and PGRs

19 Jun 2026

This week, colleagues across Teaching and Research, as well as Postgraduate Researchers, have begun to recieve access to Microsoft 365 Copilot, supported by live learning, guidance and dedicated support.

Group of people gathered around a computer with a screen behind

We know there are different views on Microsoft 365 Copilot and AI more broadly. Some colleagues are excited about the opportunity it presents whilst others question how it fits into our work in practice, what it means for us as a university and for our students.  

Shaping the rollout together

Significant engagement has been taking place across our community to listen to concerns, understand practical considerations and adapt as required to ensure all colleagues and students have the access, training and support to use Copilot responsibly.

We’ve adapted the roll out at every phase, based on your feedback, from the support we provide to the learning we deliver.

This includes work to better understand academic needs through ongoing engagement with faculty colleagues and the CoCoA (Copilot Co-ordination and Advisory) group, helping us identify common questions, areas of concern and practical support needs as Teaching and Research colleagues begin using M365 Copilot.

Read more about how colleague feedback has shaped the Microsoft 365 Copilot rollout so far, including what colleagues asked for and what has changed as a result.

You can also continue to shape this work - share your feedback or raise questions at any time via the user feedback form: User Feedback: Microsoft 365 Copilot Rollout.

What we’ve seen so far

  • Over 4,000 colleagues have attended live learning sessions
  • 45 live sessions delivered across our cohorts, covering topics from enhancing prompting to content creation
  • 4.6/5 average session rating 
  • Confidence increased from 24% to 80% following training 

What happens next

As AI becomes more embedded in how we work and learn, we’ll keep evolving our approach together. Providing access and training is the start. We’ll continue to develop our guidance, update learning and support and ensure colleagues are informed, supported and able to use AI responsibly.

Resources and guidance available now include:

The recently launched AI in Teaching and Learning Policy introduces a common framework for communicating expectations to students about how AI can be used in assessed work. Importantly, it gives teaching colleagues a clear and proportionate basis for setting those expectations ahead of the new academic year, while supporting a more consistent institutional approach.

We know there’s still a lot to explore and important questions to answer.

We’ll continue to listen carefully and adapt as we go, so the way we use M365 Copilot reflects the different needs across our community.

Designed with students

Over the summer months, we are working closely with students through the Copilot Student Advisory Group and wider engagement activity. This will help us understand student views, test assumptions and shape how any future student rollout should be supported.

The University is also developing a summer Test, Learn and Adapt study to generate evidence about the most responsible and effective way to introduce M365 Copilot to students. By learning from real student experience, the study will help shape future rollout options, including the support model, communications approach, academic guidance and safeguards needed for successful adoption.

Key links