RMIT, Melbourne and Monash Universities to share data centre

Fujitsu Australia has partnered with University of Melbourne, Monash University and RMIT to develop a shared data centre that aims to reduce the education providers' greenhouse gas emissions.

The collaboration is also aimed at reducing the universities’ cost and energy savings, Fujitsu Australia director for sustainability, Alison O’Flynn, said.

According to O’Flynn, the joint data centre is opportunity for the universities to become more sustainable with their IT practices.

“It will set a new bench mark for the education sector,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for the universities to develop a range of servers that will house content on a central data centre.”

O’Flynn claimed it is likely similar partnerships may take off in future.The data centre will be located in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs and its development overseen by Fujitsu Australia Group Executive Director, Managed Services, Joel O’Halloran.

It is expected the universities will be able to transfer to the facility in early January 2010 with potential expansion to be commissioned in 2011.

“The universities’ decision to partner with Fujitsu was influenced by its demonstrated innovation in sustainability and its long-term commitment to developing sustainable data centre environments,” Monash senior deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Edwina Cornish, said in a statement.