Higher Education and Research Focus Group

From Testing to Transformation: SAP Insights for Higher Education & Research

Join SAP professionals from across the Higher Education and Research community for this online Focus Group, chaired by Andrew Mallinson, University of Leeds. This interactive session will provide a valuable opportunity to hear the latest updates from SAP, learn from customer experiences and connect with peers facing similar challenges and priorities.

The event will open with a brief UKISUG update, followed by an SAP session from Bina Parmar, who will explore the future of SAP testing and Application Lifecycle Management. Bina will provide practical guidance on SAP Cloud ALM, the transition from SAP Solution Manager and how organisations can build a testing strategy that balances SAP-native capabilities with complementary third-party tools.

Attendees will then hear from Farzana Haris and Michael Kohl from the University of Warwick, who will share their institution's SAP transformation journey. Their presentation will cover Warwick's move to SAP S/4HANA, the organisation-wide adoption of the Fiori Launchpad and their subsequent upgrade to S/4HANA 2023. They will also discuss lessons learned, key challenges, benefits realised and their evolving SAP roadmap, including increased integration, reporting and analytics developments and future considerations around Ariba.

The event will conclude with a members-only roundtable discussion. This interactive session provides an opportunity for attendees to ask questions, share experiences, discuss current challenges and explore best practices with fellow UKISUG members in a confidential environment.

Whether you're planning your SAP roadmap, navigating an S/4HANA transformation, reviewing your testing strategy, or simply looking to learn from your peers, this Focus Group offers practical insights, real-world experiences, and valuable networking opportunities.

Don't miss this chance to connect with colleagues across the Higher Education and Research sector and take part in discussions that can help shape your SAP journey.

Speakers

Bina Parmar

Senior Test Architect, SAP

Community Chairs

Andrew Mallinson

University of Leeds

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Andrew Mallinson

University of Leeds

Andrew is an experienced SAP professional with a career that spans over a decade of transformation and innovation. He began his professional journey in debt recovery before pivoting to SAP in 2011, where he quickly established himself as a subject matter expert in billing during a major ECC6 implementation for a local authority.

 

Since then, Andrew has broadened his expertise across key functional areas including security and authorisations, finance, and his enduring passion—sales and distribution. His deep understanding of both technical and functional domains has made him a versatile leader in the SAP space.

 

Andrew joined the University of Leeds in 2018 as an analyst, where he quickly realised how much there was to learn. He embraced the opportunity to grow within an inspiring team, deepening his SAP knowledge and expanding his impact across the institution.

 

Today, he leads the SAP team at the University of Leeds, playing a central role in guiding the institution’s transition to SAP S/4HANA. His leadership is instrumental in designing solutions that not only support mission-critical business processes but also ensure the university’s systems are resilient and future-ready.

 

Beyond his operational role, Andrew is a passionate advocate for collaboration and knowledge sharing. He actively engages with peers across the higher education sector, contributing insights and fostering connections that strengthen the broader SAP community.