Discussion Documents - Information Technology Strategy

Brief: Recommend to the Vice-Chancellor a strategy for Information Technology that will best support the teaching, research and administration of the University.

The IT Strategy Working Party
Professor J S Rohl	Professor of Computer Science (in the Chair)
Mr John Arfield	University Librarian (Deputy)
Professor M N Barber	Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research)
Mr Martin Griffith	Vice-Principal
Professor P H Porter	Executive Dean, ECEL
Professor B J Stone	Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor S R Hall	Director of the Crystallography Centre
Dr Jane den Hollander	Director, Student Services
Ms Ann Chance	Executive Officer

The Technical sub-committee
Mr John Arfield	Library
Mr Bruce Kirkby	Administrative Computing Services
Ms Gee Lightfoot	Faculties Computing, FECEL
Mr Alan Dodds	Faculty Computing, Arts
Dr Stuart Bunt	Anatomy and Human Biology
Associate Professor Kraig Winters	Centre for Water Research
Mr Phil Dufty	University Computing Services
Ms Liz Tait	Secretary

The role of Information Technology in UWA's future

During the next three years the University of Western Australia will fully exploit information and communication technologies to further its goal of demonstrating the highest international standards in teaching, learning, research and administration.

Information technology will enhance student learning by providing a range of learning pathways. Used creatively, the interactivity and increased access to information that it provides will enrich the inquiry-based learning and the interaction between students, teachers and researchers, which is a distinctive feature of learning at UWA.

Information technology will support world-class research by facilitating rapid communication between researchers worldwide, by encouraging more extensive collaborative national and international research activities, and by stimulating research into new areas.

The better communications afforded by appropriate information technology will enable the university to increase its educational opportunities for undergraduates and postgraduates, expand its involvement with the local community, and improve its administrative efficiency. Emphasising ease of use, convenience, and elimination of wasteful duplication of effort, the University will use information technology to simplify its operations and to develop an open and welcoming public image.

Objective 1: That, within three years, all University students and staff have ready access to appropriate IT facilities.

It is of the highest priority that, within the next three years, all students and staff of this University have access to networked computer facilities commensurate with their teaching, learning and research activities. Meeting this objective will ensure better access to teaching and learning materials, library and information resources, and knowledge of the faculty and central data bases. Implicit in this objective is the provision of:

convenient network links on and off campus,
ready workstation access for students,
appropriate accommodation for IT usage.

Recommendations
1.1: That existing general-purpose computer facilities at university campuses be surveyed and classified according to student access and purpose, and that at least one appropriate such facility per campus be open for extended hours.

1.2: That the appropriateness of student general-purpose computer access facilities be reviewed annually to ensure that they meet prevailing and changing IT needs.

1.3: That, starting in 2000, all students (at registration) and all staff (at appointment) be provided with a (permanent) username and a (changeable) password so that all university, faculty and department computer and database systems can be accessed via that username.

1.4: That all staff members have their own computer workstation, and that discretionary funds be available to assist departments that will have difficulty achieving this objective.

1.5: That, by 2000, all lecture and tutorial venues have internet connections installed which will permit staff to use IT-based material for teaching.

1.6: That, by 2000, selected lecture and tutorial venues have access capabilities which permit students to use IT-based material on their own computers during a teaching session.

1.7: That the University explore the needs for providing and maintaining equipment in the main common teaching venues.

1.8: That discipline weightings be reviewed in the light of changing patterns of computing equipment needs and usage.

Objective 2: That University IT opportunities and services be appropriate for world-class educational outcomes.

The University should incorporate into its Strategic and Operational Plans the provision for high quality IT facilities, services and standards. These should underpin an academic environment in which new teaching and research opportunities flourish, student/staff communications are efficient and easy to use, and the overall learning experience is enriched. This objective is central to the pursuance of international excellence, both in terms of outcomes and external perceptions. While the primary responsibility for providing facilities will reside with faculties and departments [see Objective 4], creating an optimal IT environment is likely to require direct University support and incentives in the first three years. There will also be a need for some common IT standards across the University, and the coordinated acquisition of specialised IT equipment [see Objective 6].

Recommendations
2.1: That the University embrace in its strategic and Operational Priorities planning a primary need for world-class IT facilities for teaching, learning, research and services.

2.2: That the opportunities and incentives for flexible learning, and its evaluation, within an IT-rich environment be nurtured and promoted across all faculties and departments.

2.3: That the University assist faculties in assessing and acquiring state-of-the-art IT facilities for use in research.

2.4: That the University provide and maintain internet services of quality and versatility so as to allow staff, students and the wider community access to information about its activities and services.

2.5: That the University develop the use of networked facilities for accessing and retrieving teaching and research information.

2.5: That, by the year 2000, enrolment for University courses and programs be available over the internet.

2.6: That all parts of the University embrace electronic commerce for the majority of its communications and transactions.

2.7: That the University's databases, whether held centrally, in the faculties, or in the departments, be integrated and become fully web-based.

Objective 3: That access to University IT facilities be fair and non-discriminatory.

The University should ensure equitable charging policies for accessing computer, network and printer facilities.

Recommendations
3.1: That the University negotiate special rates with network and telecommunication providers so that students can access university IT facilities at minimum cost, independent of their location in the State.

3.2: That the University form a consortium with other universities to approach the computing industry and financial organisations so as to make computers available to students at low cost, with optimal purchase, lease and loan conditions.

3.3: That the University initiate an immediate study into the benefits and implications of requiring that all students have a personal computer as a condition of their enrolment.

3.4: That departments giving courses with IT-based material be required to provide appropriate no-cost computer access to students enrolled in this course.

3.5: That the University continues to negotiate and administer bulk software licences for staff and students.

3.6: That the University initiate an immediate study into the feasibility of "wireless network" facilities for the Crawley campus which will provide mobile computing links for students.

Objective 4: That, consistent with agreed upon common standards and services, the responsibility for IT resources be devolved.

IT resources should, where possible, be the responsibility of the departments and faculties. However, it must be recognised that significant efficiency gains are possible by ensuring compatibility of systems and staff [see Objective 6]. Specific aspects to be considered are:

additional funding for faculty IT initiatives and innovation,
incentives for cross-faculty sharing of IT resources and infrastructure.

Recommendations

4.1: That the University designate, at the advice of its IT policy body (see Recommendation 6.1), which IT services and facilities are the primary responsibility of the faculties and departments, and which are not.

4.2: That the University specify, at the advice of its IT policy body (see Recommendation 6.1), common IT protocols, practices and software standards which will ensure simple and efficient use of IT at all levels.

4.3: That the University provide discretionary funding towards faculty-sponsored IT initiatives and innovations, as well as towards promoting cross-faculty sharing of IT infrastructure.

4.4: That University, preferably through UCS, maintain network installations and e-mail routing outside of departments and faculties, but including common teaching venues.

Objective 5: That a senior executive appointment be made to oversee IT developments at the University.

Although the provision of IT facilities at the University should be devolved to faculties and departments (see Objective 4), a senior executive officer will be needed to champion and monitor the IT policy framework. This officer would be the Chair of the University IT Policy Committee (see Objective 6). This post should be at the Pro Vice Chancellor level, perhaps as a new appointment with shared responsibilities for other technology, information, publication or planning portfolios. The executive officer should be responsible for:

recommending the infrastructure required in order to achieve the objectives of the IT policy,
IT and computing staff not attached to faculties or departments (e.g. UCS staff, and perhaps those in ACS, university information and database services),
implementing University IT policies,
maintaining base-level IT services, facilities and uniform standards,
developing and maintaining central web services.
coordinating University site-licence policies and their administration.

Recommendation
5.1: That a senior executive position be established, at the Pro Vice Chancellor level, with primary responsibility for championing IT at the University, administering its policy framework, and Chairing the University IT Policy Committee (see Recommendation 6).

Objective 6: That a high-level committee be formed on IT policy and planning.

A committee is needed to advise the Vice Chancellor on IT policy and planning matters. The committee would provide a formal mechanism for recommending University IT policy, as well as advising on new IT initiatives. The University IT executive officer (see Objective 5) would chair this committee. Specific objectives of the committee would be:

to recommend IT policy and planning for the University,
to appoint an IT Specialists Committee with an technical advisory role (the Chair would be represented on the IT policy committee),
to advise the University on major software initiatives and upgrades,
to periodically review the maintenance of IT standards,
to coordinate the acquisition of specialised IT equipment.

Recommendations
6.1: That an IT Policy Committee be formed to advise the Vice Chancellor on IT policy and planning matters.

6.2: That the duties of the IT Policy Committee be to:

recommend IT policy and planning for the University,
appoint an IT Specialists Committee with an technical advisory role (and representation on the IT policy committee),
advise the University on major software initiatives and upgrades,
periodically review the maintenance of IT standards, and
coordinate the acquisition of specialised IT equipment.

6.3: That the membership of the IT Policy Committee should be:

the IT executive officer as Chair (see Recommendation 5),
the Vice Principal,
the Registrar,
the University Librarian,
the President of the Guild of Undergraduates,
the Chair of the IT Specialists Committee (see Recommendation 6.2),
a representative from each faculty, and
three members of the academic or general staff selected by the Vice-Chancellor.

Objective 7: That all UWA students acquire a level of IT competency appropriate for their studies and vocation.

It should be a departmental responsibility that discipline- and employment-related IT skills are acquired by their students. This may be achieved by:

surveying the IT skills of incoming students,
training all students in basic IT skills (e.g. a course prior to first semester),
the possible use of University Extension for more advanced training.

Recommendations
7.1: That the University Student Services be required to survey the IT skills of incoming students and to make known the results of these surveys to the faculties.

7.2: That the faculties be required to:

establish, with reference to the relevant professional societies and those who traditionally employ the graduates, what skills are required of their graduates, and
put in place courses that will ensure the students have these skills.

Objective 8: That all UWA staff maintain a level of IT competency commensurate with their activities.

IT applications are changing continually and there is a need for the regular updating of IT knowledge among all staff. It is recommended that IT training be an integral part of all staff duties with the expectation that all staff members acquire a level of IT skill commensurate with their teaching, research and administrative activities. While IT training opportunities already exist at the University, there needs to be a significant change in IT attitudes and perceptions so that new IT opportunities are fully exploited. This may be achieved by:

requiring that IT skills be specified on all duty statements,
having an IT training programme which is part of all new staff induction,
encouraging all staff to achieve a high level of IT competence,
providing advanced as well as basic IT training courses,
informing staff on how IT can be applied to everyday activities,
encouraging departments and faculties to train selected staff to provide point-of-use advice, support and instruction.

Recommendations
8.1: That IT skills be specified on the duty statements of general staff, and on the performance appraisal records of academic staff.

8.2: That the induction programme for general staff be expanded to include IT training.

8.3: That the Centre for Staff Development be required to provide both basic and advanced IT training courses; or, if this is not possible, that suitable alternative training providers be identified for this purpose.

8.4: That departments or faculties be encouraged to make available personnel with a higher level of IT expertise to give point-of-use advice, support and encouragement to staff towards achieving improved IT competence.

Information Technology Strategy Report