Ruth Farwell
A good student experience in changing times
Much has been made in recent Government policy of putting students in the driving seat with HEFCE in the role of promoting students’ interests, including as consumers. We explore the impact on universities, and whether this challenges or is in keeping with the idea of providing sustainable services.
Peter Tinson
A day in the life of the UCISA Exec − update on UCISA
UCISA seeks to promote best practice in the use of information systems, services and technologies in higher and further education and to inform and support policy making processes, at an international, national and institutional level. UCISA achieves these aims through a combination of the work of the many volunteers that make up our committees and working groups and the work of the UCISA office. This day in the life presentation looks behind the scenes at how the UCISA Office supports the Association in delivering against its strategic mission.
Martyn Harrow and Tim Marshall
Towards new JISC
Martyn Harrow, new Head of JISC, and Tim Marshall CEO of Janet will be presenting together. They will update briefly on the progress to date in shaping a new JISC for new times − following the Wilson review − and will also outline early thoughts on what it will mean for all of us in the higher education IT community for the future.
John Cartwright, University of Liverpool and Hugh Lavery, Leeds Metropolitan University
Supplier relationships − are we creating value?
Strong working relationships with our key suppliers have always been important but now even more so in the current economic climate. The cost of acquiring and developing new IT services and systems is significant, therefore we must guarantee that every ounce of value is realised! Based on input from colleagues and suppliers within the sector, this session explores some of the key relationship management issues from both sides of the negotiating table.
Simon Dakin
A Cloud by any other name: why education consumers and funders are demanding a new ICT model
The ICT industry has reached a level of maturity where industrialisation is now inevitable, propelled by innovation and the requirements of both the users and funders whose expectations are set on an ICT revolution. Cloud as a journey, rather than a technology, antipathies this change – explored by Simon in this presentation.
James Salmon
IT services in the HE Sector: A private sector perspective
James will cover how the Apollo Global Inc group of companies has embarked upon developing a common framework of IT infrastructure and applications to serve a network of universities throughout the world. This brings with it the need to cater for diverse needs, project manage a complex international network of providers and decide on the best strategy for own development and off the shelf applications.
Eddie Obeng
Surviving and thriving in a new world of challenge
Change is coming faster and with less precedent. For the members of UCISA it is arriving on all fronts especially on the human financial and technology dimensions:
- The student body is changing its demands and also changing how it wishes to be communicated with
- The academic body is having to rethink how it delivers learning and uses technology
- There are financial pressures at the same time as there is a need to recruit students in new ways
- There are broader challenges of sustainability and social responsibility
- The IT community who are directly affected may be unused to this level of change
- The technology continues to change and demand new ways of being use.
All this is set against a backdrop of an environment where the vast majority of resources are committed simply to business as usual.
The purpose of the keynote session is to draw together the threads of the Conference; to give additional food for thought; to propose some practical first steps for the return to work and to engage, energise and inspire the participants to go away and act.
