Fontys ICT, a Dutch university, built a governed multi-provider AI platform using a gateway architecture to provide equitable access to AI tools while maintaining institutional control. The platform separates user experience, governance, and model providers through three layers: OpenWebUI frontend with SSO, Portkey gateway for access control and routing, and multiple providers including EU-hosted Azure models and self-hosted open-source options. A six-month pilot with 300 users demonstrated that EU-first routing, budget controls, and centralized governance can work at institutional scale, enabling universities to offer advanced AI capabilities without sacrificing compliance, cost control, or transparency.
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The challenges of AI adoption in higher educationEvaluating the options for institutional AI adoptionThe solution: a gateway-based AI platformWhat six months of operating the platform revealedInstitutional AI without losing controlSort: