Creating a smarter, more connected campus with MuleSoft 

In less than two years, the University of Derby (Derby) has accelerated its digital transformation by harnessing MuleSoft, Salesforce’s powerful integration platform. As part of its move toward a digital-first ecosystem, the University has connected core systems to deliver faster, more seamless services for students and staff.

Backed by strong foundations and growing internal skills, Derby is improving efficiency, strengthening service delivery and creating long-term value across the University.

MuleSoft now drives a connected digital environment that enhances data quality, automates key processes and allows the University to introduce new capabilities and improvements much more easily.

Introduction to The University of Derby

Located in the heart of England, the University of Derby has over 34,000 students and offers industry-relevant, expert teaching from foundation and undergraduate degrees to postgraduate study and research. A complex IT landscape meant the University needed an efficient and scalable way to support staff and students and make everyday processes easier and more reliable. Recognising the need for change, Derby partnered with Infomentum to create a sustainable, future-ready Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) on MuleSoft that can adapt and grow with their needs.

Driving modernisation

The University’s core mission was to adopt more modern, cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions.

To deliver on its ambitions, the University first needed to review its existing applications for future-readiness and any factors that could be limiting. Replacing the existing point-to-point connectors with a modern, API-led iPaaS was critical to achieving long-term agility.

As a result, the team’s goal was to:

• Create a single, connected data foundation so information could move reliably between systems and support further cloud adoption.
• Run an early pilot to validate the MuleSoft approach, demonstrate quick value and give the team clarity on what future integrations would require.
• Build a flexible integration layer that can adapt to new technologies, helping Derby modernise core processes and deliver more joined-up services.
• Equip Derby’s internal teams to manage and evolve the digital ecosystem without reliance on external partners.
  
  

“We really welcomed the partnership with Infomentum because it meant we didn’t have to learn it all at once. We've got a second pair of eyes on things that we're doing, and it means we've got someone we can lean on for support when we need it.”
- Paul Matthews, Systems Engineer at The University of Derby

How we made it work

We started by establishing a solid MuleSoft foundation and implementing a clear, high-impact use case to show the platform’s value in action.

Drawing on our deep expertise in higher education and MuleSoft implementations, we began with a workload-planning pilot to validate the technology and build confidence across teams. We shaped the pilot around Derby’s actual systems, bringing data together and putting the new integration approach through its paces. It quickly showed how MuleSoft could improve point-to-point connections with a more robust and future proofed approach.

By combining traditional project governance with Agile development, the pilot encouraged tight collaboration, rapid iteration and clear alignment with Derby’s evolving priorities.

During the first 30 days, we designed the platform, planned the automated workflows that would replace the existing system, and made sure the required data outputs were delivered as expected. The project proved MuleSoft’s strategic value and established a strong foundation for future connectivity across the University.

Momentum gained

With the foundations in place, the University of Derby now has a reusable, future-ready iPaaS backbone aligned with both operational needs and strategic goals. The platform supports both real-time and batch data processing needs, improving data quality and operational efficiency across key University systems.

We also worked with Derby to shape a clear API management approach in MuleSoft’s API Manager, to improve security, consistency and governance in the new platform.

Together, we have shaped a practical integration roadmap, identifying which projects Derby can lead themselves, as well as those they may want additional help with, ensuring ongoing momentum and long-term success. Targeted enablement and knowledge transfer sessions have empowered the Derby team, building their confidence and capability to manage the platform independently.

Key deliverables achieved

• Migrating critical data flows from the previous point integration tool to MuleSoft, ensuring accurate workload planning and creating a scalable connectivity framework.
• Connecting key University systems - including student records, timetabling, HR, and academic workload planning - through dedicated APIs, enabling seamless data access and transfer.
• Linking the University’s virtual learning environment with its student record system, giving students easy, near real-time access to their course materials.
• Refining API governance through comprehensive cost-benefit analyses, ensuring MuleSoft is applied only where it adds efficiency and value.
• Providing managed services that offer reliable production support to swiftly address issues, as well as flexible consultancy using surplus hours.
• Delivering hands-on enablement and knowledge transfer, empowering the team to reuse APIs, scale projects and lead future integrations autonomously.

What's next

The University has a number of transformative projects on the horizon, including creating a centralised research repository, modernising the student relationship management system and embedding timetabling data across platforms - all building on the MuleSoft enabled strong SaaS-first, API-led foundation now in place.

Derby is now well positioned to deliver these initiatives at pace. Infomentum will continue to provide guidance, knowledge transfer and on-demand support, helping Derby’s teams stay confident and self-sufficient as they build on the strong momentum already achieved.