The University of Western Australia

Western Governors University operates the nation's largest nonprofit online university, running competency-based degree programs for over 300,000 working adults across all 50 states. The threat model is straightforward: protecting student records, financial data, and learning platform integrity at scale while maintaining always-on availability for asynchronous learners juggling work and school. The institution holds regional accreditation and manages programs in IT, healthcare, business, and education - domains that come with their own compliance surface areas including FERPA, payment card standards, and healthcare-adjacent data handling. The infrastructure runs on a hybrid Oracle and AWS stack: Oracle Database with Exadata Cloud@Customer, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Amazon RDS and Aurora, plus Oracle GoldenGate for replication and Oracle RAC for high availability. The platform also leverages Oracle Cloud Infrastructure alongside AWS, with QLIK handling analytics. Security teams work across on-prem Oracle environments and cloud services, managing database security posture, access controls, encryption at rest and in transit, and monitoring across a distributed architecture that supports continuous student access and flat-rate term enrollment cycles. The competency-based model creates specific operational requirements: students advance through material at individual speeds, meaning the platform needs persistent uptime and secure access to assessment engines, faculty mentorship tools, and credential verification systems. Security work includes protecting PII for hundreds of thousands of active students, securing APIs between learning management components, monitoring for account takeover attempts, and maintaining audit trails for accreditation review. The scale is enterprise-level higher ed infrastructure with nonprofit constraints and a student population that expects 24/7 platform availability.

We are a university deeply connected to our region and committed to making a difference. Located in Greater Western Sydney – the heart of Australia's third-largest economy and one of its fastest-growing regions – we serve a diverse community of more than two million people from 170 nations. Since beginning operations in 1989, we have grown to accommodate over 50,000 students across multiple campuses, with 65% being the first in their family to attend university. We are proud to be ranked number one in the world for four consecutive years (2022-2025) in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, recognising our work tackling sustainability, climate action, equality, inclusivity, and social justice. Our approach is student-focused and research-led. We put students at the heart of everything we do, co-creating courses that prepare them for employment success in the 21st century. Our innovative teaching brings together students, staff, and external partners to deliver practical, impactful learning experiences. With world-class vertical campuses in Western Sydney growth centres like Parramatta, Westmead, Liverpool, and Bankstown CBD, we embed ourselves in the economic and civic life of our region. We are also building transformative educational infrastructure through partnerships with industry, government, and other higher education providers, creating technology-rich teaching and research spaces that serve our community.

The University of Miami is a private research university with more than 19,000 students from around the world pursuing their academic goals at a vibrant and diverse institution focused on teaching, learning, and service. Established in 1925 during South Florida's famous real estate boom, the University now comprises 12 schools and colleges serving undergraduate and graduate students across nearly 350 majors and programs, with an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio that ensures personalized attention and mentorship. With more than $492 million in research and sponsored program expenditures annually, the University of Miami is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU) - an honor extended to only 3% of four-year institutions nationwide in recognition of breadth and quality of research and scholarship. While the majority of this work is housed at the Miller School of Medicine, investigators conduct hundreds of studies in areas including marine science, engineering, education, and psychology. Located in one of the most dynamic and multicultural cities in the world, UM maintains a 94% first-year to sophomore retention rate, reflecting student satisfaction and institutional excellence.

UNSW Sydney is a leading global research and teaching university established in 1949. The university transforms lives locally and globally through innovative research and transformative education. With over 75 years of impact, UNSW consistently ranks among the world's top universities, placing 2nd in Australia and 27th globally for graduate employability. The university operates across eight faculties including Arts, Design & Architecture; Business School; Engineering; Law & Justice; Medicine & Health; Science; and UNSW Canberra. Through its 'Progress for All' strategy, UNSW addresses pressing global challenges from climate change and renewable energies to lifesaving medical treatments and breakthrough technologies. The university's motto 'Scientia Corde Manu et Mente' – Knowledge by Heart, Hand and Mind – embodies its commitment to diversity, integrity, innovation and community connections.

In 1848, as Wisconsin achieved statehood, forward-thinking leaders recognized that the young state needed an institution of higher learning to serve its people. The University of Wisconsin–Madison was born from this vision, established in the state constitution and initially funded by a federal land grant. The university held its first classes in February 1849 with just 20 students, but those humble beginnings belied the extraordinary impact this institution would have on the world. Over more than 175 years, UW–Madison has evolved from a small frontier college into a world-class public research university that attracts scholars from across the globe. The campus has grown to 939 acres nestled between two lakes in Madison, becoming not just an educational institution but a catalyst for discovery, innovation, and public service. Today, the university continues its land-grant mission, conducting groundbreaking research, educating future leaders, and extending knowledge to improve lives throughout Wisconsin and beyond.