Due to high demand additional opportunity to join the Nextcloud pilot
Since January, 30 members from across our cooperative have signed up to take part in the pilot. The first 12 institutions are now connected to the Nextcloud environment. In groups of at least 20 users, they are gaining experience with using Nextcloud in their daily working environment and in collaboration within and between teams.
Nextcloud in practice
Through this pilot, SURF is working with its members to explore how Nextcloud can be deployed in practice as part of a broader range of office software solutions. Hans Louwhoff, SURF board member: “We are taking an important step towards greater digital autonomy for our members. The high level of interest shows that this is a live issue. That is why it makes sense to give more institutions the opportunity to participate.”
Digital autonomy
SURF is explicitly exploring the use of Nextcloud in the context of digital autonomy and freedom of choice in office software. In this context, Nextcloud’s CEO, Frank Karlitschek, visited SURF today for an introductory meeting and a discussion about further collaboration. Karlitschek: “We are pleased that the participants in the Nextcloud pilot are having a positive experience. The constructive collaboration with the Dutch education sector, and especially SURF’s participation in the open-source Nextcloud community, are incredibly valuable. The co-creation process we are seeing here is a prime example of how the Netherlands can effectively build a strong, autonomous digital workspace.”