HSU
The roll-out of Microsoft 365 Copilot is resuming
In connection with the roll-out of Microsoft 365 Copilot Premium, the staff side has, quite rightly, raised a number of concerns, criticisms and questions.
These were discussed at an extraordinary meeting of the Central Liaison Committee on 27 August 2026, where issues relating to data protection, information security, access control, skills development and governance, amongst others, were raised. The discussion has helped to clarify both the opportunities offered by Copilot and the frameworks and key considerations necessary for its safe and responsible use.
At the extraordinary meeting, there was an opportunity to discuss how to ensure staff involvement and participation in the continued roll-out of Copilot, and it was decided that a dialogue forum should be appointed, chaired by University Director Simon Krogh. The other representatives on the dialogue forum are Head of IT and Digitalisation Bue Raun Andersen, Head of Information Security Janni Lee B. Bang Brodersen, Lars Elbæk, Kristian Debrabant, Henrik Skov Midtiby and Central Liaison Committee Vice Chair Christian Bilde Dannevang.
Following the discussion at the extraordinary meeting, the Central Liaison Committee agreed that SDU should resume the roll-out of Copilot. Each main area will determine the scope and pace of the roll-out locally.
As part of the implementation, SDU IT has been working on a number of technical and organisational measures, including guidelines, an awareness module, a risk assessment and hardening of the Microsoft 365 environment. This work will continue in the coming period, during which, amongst other things, further measures and documentation will be followed up on.
The continued roll-out should be seen in close connection with SDU’s broader focus on AI skills and the opportunities that AI creates. AI is increasingly an integral part of the university’s operations – in administrative functions, teaching, research and collaboration with the wider world. Against this background, the Career and Competence Development Committees for academic staff (VIP) and technical and administrative staff (TAP) have focused on AI skills in 2026.
AI skills are not just about being able to use new digital tools from a technical perspective. They are also about being able to assess when AI can add value, when the technology is not relevant, and how it can be used responsibly, safely and with professional judgement.
At the forthcoming Central Liaison Committee meeting, AI skills amongst SDU staff will be placed on the agenda, as it is important to focus on how skills development can be tailored and based on the individual’s tasks, role and context of use. The aim is for staff at SDU to have ongoing opportunities to develop the AI skills relevant to their work – and for the use of AI to be responsible, value-adding and firmly rooted in the university’s academic remit.