What links a penguin, a hippo and some cake? A trip to Durham to celebrate the successful delivery of a major student systems transformation and the recognition that followed.
Following the full design, implementation and roll-out of our Presto Attendance and Engagement solution, Durham University’s Attendance and Engagement Project team received an internal university award:
“Inspiring the Extraordinary – Collaborating to Achieve a Successful Outcome”
Winner: Attendance and Engagement Project
A fantastic achievement which is thoroughly deserved. We marked the occasion together (with a small nod to a well-known local bakery), but the real celebration was the impact the project has delivered.
A Project Built on Partnership
Large-scale student systems projects are rarely just about technology. They’re about people, governance, clarity of purpose and shared commitment.
From day one, this project was positioned not as a supplier delivery, but as a partnership. As Andy Shuttleworth, Project Manager at Durham University, reflected:
“The implementation and roll-out of Student Check-In (Presto) has been one of the most effective student systems projects I have worked on. As part of a wider programme of change at Durham University, it has demonstrated the value of clear governance, defined roles, and strong delivery practices.”
This wasn’t simply a deployment. It’s part of a wider institutional transformation, embedding effective attendance and engagement as a meaningful driver of student success.
Collaboration That Delivered Real Impact
Over the course of a year-long design, implementation and roll-out, the project-maintained momentum through structured governance, clear ownership and open communication.
“From the outset, the project was a collaborative partnership between Durham and Simac IDS. Throughout the year-long design, implementation, and roll-out phases, Simac IDS provided consistent, high-quality support.” (Andy Shuttleworth)
In complex higher education environments, sustained collaboration is what turns plans into measurable outcomes. Clear roles. Shared accountability. Confidence in the solution. And perhaps most importantly — trust.
Continuing the Conversation: Measuring What Matters
We’re delighted that Andy Shuttleworth will be speaking at the upcoming Simac IDS Conference on 14th April, “Measuring What Matters: Harnessing Data to Transform Student Engagement.”
Building on the success of the Attendance and Engagement project, Andy will share insights into how institutions can move beyond implementation, using meaningful data to drive engagement strategies, inform interventions and support student outcomes at scale.
It promises to be a valuable session for institutions looking to translate attendance data into actionable intelligence.
A Model for Future System Implementations
Successful projects leave more than a live system behind. They leave a blueprint.
“The approach taken, grounded in open communication, collaboration, and confidence in the solution, provides a strong model for future systems implementations.”
That endorsement speaks volumes.
When attendance and engagement systems are implemented well, they do more than record data. They enable earlier interventions. They empower academic teams. They strengthen student support. They contribute to retention, progression, and ultimately student success.
Inspiring the Extraordinary
The words on Durham’s award certificate, Inspiring the Extraordinary, feel particularly fitting. Because extraordinary outcomes rarely happen by accident. They happen:
- when institutions commit to change
- when project teams lead with clarity
- when partnerships are genuine
We’re incredibly proud to have partnered with Durham University on this journey and look forward to supporting the continued evolution of attendance and engagement across the sector.
Here’s to collaboration.
Here’s to delivery done right.
And here’s to many more shared successes ahead.
