The high-rise in the University City, where Aarhus University's IT department moved into the lower floors in 2023, is quiet during the holiday period. At the time of the interview, it had not yet been announced that their boss, Peter Bruun Nielsen, had just been reappointed as Deputy Director for IT for the next six years. Perhaps they sensed it, speculates Peter Bruun Nielsen. "And we'll have to wait and see if they are happy about it," he jokes.

They – and the rest of Aarhus University – will certainly have a Deputy Director who is very pleased. Not just with his new job, which he knows exceptionally well after having held it for nine years. The joy also comes from the many IT users at Aarhus University, who are constructively critical of the IT service that Peter Bruun Nielsen and his staff provide.

"IT is something that everyone comes into contact with and has an opinion on. Whether it's because the IT system is causing problems, because they receive a phishing email, or because they have to handle large amounts of data. Almost everything is supported by IT, and each IT user needs to feel confident about the operation," says Peter Bruun Nielsen.

He argues against the notion that IT should be an invisible support, as employees and students at Aarhus University should be aware of how IT functions. He believes that this makes them constructive participants, which is necessary for the development of IT and digital transformation (which we will return to).

A far-reaching vision and solid foundation

When Peter Bruun Nielsen took up the role of Deputy Director for IT in 2015, he came to a fragmented university – from an IT perspective. There were many IT systems, diverse infrastructure, and multiple data centers. His task was to create uniformity across the extensive IT landscape, manage numerous IT projects, and formulate an IT strategy. He has succeeded, says University Director Kristian Thorn:

"Peter Bruun Nielsen has convincingly demonstrated that he is the right person to lead the IT development and operations at Aarhus University. When he started in 2015, the IT task was scattered in many directions, but Peter and the entire IT organization have skillfully implemented measures that mean we stand on solid IT ground today. I look forward to Peter continuing to focus on the future and implementing important changes in the organization driven by IT. I am confident about Peter continuing as Deputy Director for IT," says Kristian Thorn.

Security in focus

There are still many IT systems at AU, says Peter Bruun Nielsen.

"But we have a common IT infrastructure, and that means, for example, that we do not have to spend a long time making something work across the board. When we had to adopt Teams (the online-based communication and collaboration system, ed.) during the coronavirus lockdown, it took one day to deploy it, so everyone had access. This would not have been possible before," explains Peter Bruun Nielsen.

He emphasizes that it's not just about providing a quick service and creating a good user journey, as the IT lingo goes. It's also about maintaining a high level of IT security.

"Security must be given full attention because universities are a popular target for cybercrime. A new world order means that we have to be more vigilant about the defenses we build to protect researchers' data. This demands that we create solutions so researchers have easy and controlled access to closed environments, where they can share and process data with both internal and external partners," says Peter Bruun Nielsen.

Not just powering paper

As the reappointed Deputy Director, he is willing to declare his policies, especially regarding the so-called digital transformation.

"It's not just about powering processes but about easing and automating workflows so that efforts can be spent on other important tasks. At AU, we have been working purposefully to create a solid technological foundation and are now ready to reap the benefits. This applies to both administrative processes and the IT service that researchers experience. Digital transformation affects everyone; administrative staff, students, and academic personnel. The goal is to free up time for core services – research and education – thereby improving quality," says Peter Bruun Nielsen.

He is aware that it requires leadership focus from all corners of the university to succeed. And he senses the willingness to support this.

"That's why I have such a fondness for the university. There's a healthy critical approach, and things need to be understood and discussed thoroughly before being accepted. The advantage of this is that there's consensus on a decision, and we succeed together in reaching our goals," says Peter Bruun Nielsen.

As the leader of the IT area at AU for nine years, Peter Bruun Nielsen has been successful in building a reliable deputy directorate area. He emphasizes that this has been possible because he has skilled and competent people around him.

"I'm a team player and I contribute to oversight and priorities. When systems aren't working, it falls back on the IT department, and then we have to be quick to assemble the right team and clear obstacles. The IT department exists for the university, and we are only successful if users feel they are getting the support they need," says Peter Bruun Nielsen.

ABOUT PETER BRUUN NIELSEN

Peter Bruun Nielsen is 58 years old, married, father of four, and lives in Skødstrup, from where he bicycles to and from work daily. Before coming to AU, he was the IT operations manager in the Central Denmark Region. Peter Bruun Nielsen holds a Master’s in Political Science from Aarhus University.