Contents
1. Five-year Strategic Plan: Oxford University Computing Services (2009/10 to 2013/14)
Summary of the department’s remit:
The Mission Statement of OUCS is:-
OUCS will fulfill its Mission:
OUCS consists of a series of groups (below) and externally funded research projects. The former consists of the following with a total FTE of 116 FTE(including the Office for Director of IT) a drop from 122 four years ago, plus those funded by external projects.
OUCS also hosts c. 10 FTE of the ICT Support Team.
At present, due to retirement of some senior managers and secondments, the Information and Support Group has been split into two with a separation of the national services.
2. Vision, and summary of the department’s main objectives
This report sets OUCS’s objectives for 2009/10-2013/14. We begin with a short review of our last five-year plan, and then proceed to discussing the key challenges and issues facing the department, especially arising from the financial forecasting exercise.
Considering the future some key objectives do stand out. Many of these depend on funding proposals under the ICT Capital envelope or elsewhere (e.g. the Estates budget). In the absence of these we would look to funds from external sources (e.g. JISC) but these are becoming increasingly difficult to secure especially for localised infrastructure developments.
The following objectives should also be read alongside the Five-Year Strategic Plan for the Office for the Director of IT (ODIT).
These are all against the background of maintaining our core services in a cost effective manner (see Challenges below).
3. The department’s strategic challenges 2009/10 to 2013/14 (including the impact of reductions in resources)
3.1. Retrospective Consideration of Previous Plan
At the beginning of 2009 OUCS produced its revised five-year plan(see http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/internal/5yr/). This provided a detailed analysis of the future initiatives and developments within OUCS, listed a series of specific goals and tasks and demonstrated how these took forward the aims and objectives of the University as set out in the Corporate Plan.
OUCS has achieved considerable success in meeting the objectives set out jointly by the department and the divisions. Our major projects are all running to time and within budget, with notable successes in the roll-out of the Nexus service. Despite the fact that demands on our services, and for new services are increasing all the time, we have also managed our budget once again to meet our forecast. At the same time, whilst remaining financially prudent we have also managed to develop our services in new and imaginative ways – e.g. launching Mobile Oxford, continued success of iTunes U, etc. We were the main developers of the Single Sign-On system for the Oracle Student System demonstrating our ability to work closely with other sections of the University, and completed the Core User Directory pilot. All of these, and other successes, are referenced in this plan.
3.2. Challenges, Issues, and Monitoring
At an abstract level the underlying challenge for OUCS is to:
Considering the range of critical services - the backbone network, email servers, hierarchical file store, training programme, advice and support – and the demands for new IT services which match the ambitions and reputation of a top-flight University, the challenge is considerable. Over recent years we have been asked to make cuts on predicted expenditure that have led to a year-on-year reduction in baseline funding with little access to development funds. As a result it is increasingly difficult for OUCS to meet user expectations, and more importantly to guarantee reliability and resilience.
Nevertheless, we aim to maintain standards, and our performance is monitored regularly by the OUCS Management sub-committee and ultimately the PRAC ICT sub-committee. This is a fully transparent process in which on an annual basis the new OUCS Management sub-committee analyses our services (as defined in our complete set of Service Level Descriptions), suggest changes, reviews usage, and assists in setting the budget for the following academic year. This is but one stage in a now established review process of OUCS (see Key Performance Indicators – below).
Against this background, however, OUCS has been asked to present options on how it, as a department, could demonstrate a 10% saving in net expenditure over three years. We have outlined this in detail in a separate paper but in summary we propose:
In addition, we outline further options that could be considered but all of these would have a detrimental effect on OUCS’s ability to run and develop its services, or move costs from the centre to local units. These options include:
These have been presented as a set of options in a separate submission to the Budget Sub-Committee for discussion. However, as we do not know the outcome of these discussions the effects of these options have not been factored into the following plans.
3.4. Future Plans and Initiatives
In spite of this what follows is a reflection on some of the objectives set last year, and a plan for how we can take services forward over the next five-year period bearing in our finances. Drawing on the objectives set out in published University strategies, we focus on key areas such as teaching, research, and overall support services. Under these we then list the key objectives OUCS proposes which will assist the University in meeting these strategies. In writing this we have attempted to align the appropriate goals with those presented in the strategic plan for the Office for the Director of IT (ODIT).
In many cases these new initiatives would require new money and we will look to the internal ICT Capital Envelope for this, or external funding (through bodies such as JISC). In Appendix A we have listed major projects which require funding in excess of £50k. The most important of these being the replacement of the backbone network beginning in 2011. OUCS has no development funds of its own to draw on so has to seek assistance from external funding. Even then any application to the ICT Capital Envelope would need approval by the OUCS Management Committee, PICT, BSC, and ultimately PRAC – and would only be submitted with the support of the divisions.
OUCS provides advice and support related to the use of C&IT in traditional teaching, learning and research in all disciplines, as well as specific training for IT staff. The former is mainly through its Learning Technologies Group and the latter co-ordinated by the IT Support Staff Service (ITS3).
The LTG supports and develops the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) for the University (WebLearn), tailored to the needs of students and staff. In 2009 OUCS launched the new WebLearn service, with new tools and features in response to user feedback. The WebLearn project is directed by a steering group comprising OUCS, college and faculty representatives. This is an ongoing development project, and in 2010 we will continue to offer services in response to new technologies and increasing demands from academic staff. The LTG promotes and supports the use of online multimedia for learning and teaching, particular highlights of 2009 were the success of the podcasting and Oxford in Itunes U projects. In 2010 we plan to develop this further, encourage re-use of these materials for teaching, and ensure that the high profile, high value media, assets created by Oxford staff and students can be managed and stored appropriately. We will be responding to the increasing use of mobile and handheld devices by developing appropriate interfaces and services for mobile learning.
OUCS also provides specific support to IT Support Staff in terms of training via its ITS3 service. This arranges the annual conference and a programme of training opportunities throughout the year. We are noticing increased demand for these courses by local IT officers, and our objectives list the ongoing process of constantly revising these activities to meet changing needs.
OUCS is not directly affected by the size and shape of teaching and learning, as it does not run matriculated courses for students, nor is it involved directly in student recruitment. However, a shift in the size or demographic of the student body will affect the demands on some of the services offered by OUCS (including the VLE and IT training programme) and needs to be reflected in the money given to OUCS to run its services (see ‘Finances’). As with all our services offered to staff and students we will be ensuring that our practice is inclusive, up-to-date and in line with user needs and that the services can meet any up-turn assuming appropriate funding is found.
Considering our activities since the last five-year plan we would note in particular:
In recognition of the skills development and learning needs of all members of the University the OUCS training programme, and courses offered by ITS3, provide University staff and students with training in IT literacy and technical skills and how to effectively use C&IT in teaching and research. We promote the use of technology in teaching at Oxford via our user communities, websites, news publications, workshops and events and we provide well equipped teaching and training spaces for use by members of the University and external guests. In 2010 we will launch a new programme of Mac courses in our new Apple Accredited Training Centre and roll out tailored, discipline specific support for digital research skills and managing your online identity. We will continue to develop bespoke and discipline specific training courses, and support senior staff in their use of IT for management and decision making. We also seek to support departments and divisions in getting best value for money from the classroom technologies in which they have invested. We provide training and advice in the use of these and in the design of technology enhanced learning spaces.
To ensure that we continue to foster and support excellence, innovation and best practice, the LTG also carries out and disseminates research into the latest developments in the use of C&IT in traditional university teaching and learning. We also hold annual OxTALENT awards ceremonies to recognize and celebrate innovation at Oxford.
In 2010 the LTG’s focus will be on ensuring value for money for the University by making special efforts to target services equally across each Division. Particularly we will be exploring ways in which we can support students in developing their employability skills and staff in maximizing the impact in their work.
In Appendix A we provide a list of our major objectives over the next five years, but with reference to teaching and learning it is worth noting the following:
Target our IT Learning Programme to keep up to date with the demands of the users. In particular, under the direction of the Graduate Skills Advisory Group (GSAG), look at the research and support skills that staff and students need. Integrate training for Macs into general courses and promote discipline-specific training. A new programme of Mac courses, the Graduate Skills toolkit pilot programme and online and classroom supported learning activities on agent-based computer modelling will begin in 2010. Target: Ongoing.
In 2008-9 OUCS developed its first ‘Research Strategy’ outlining the key areas that OUCS will target in the future for research and development projects (usually from external funds). It also developed a full process to assess new project bids to make sure they are in line with OUCS’s five-year strategy, and a project management methodology. Considered below also is OUCS’s services to research elsewhere in the University. One of the stated objectives in the mission statement of OUCS is to:
‘foster and support excellence, innovation, best practice, and value for money in the use of IT in teaching, learning, and research across the University’
OUCS has a cross-department initiative – the Research Technologies Service (RTS) which, through internal and external project funding, develops cutting edge applications to support research, and provides advisory services for the University and beyond. The activities of the RTS complement the infrastructure and other support services provided by OUCS. To assist with this and the development of OUCS’s own research strategy, we have a full-time Research Facilitator, and a half-time post liaison post with Oxford e-Research Centre, to take forward these activities and actively manage a research strategy. Members of staff in all the OUCS groups are able to offer support through the RTS; the Information and Support Group has a specific team set up to do development (for example of web sites and services, databases, and analysis) for internal and external clients; and OUCS hosts the JISC-funded OSS Watch service which offers support and advice on larger-scale software development.
The aim of the RTS is to work with other University departments to establish the ICT requirements of their research communities, offers services to research projects across the University (see http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/rts/rtsservices.xml). These range from project planning, through to offering advice to projects underway, assisting in development, and helping complete an exit strategy. In connection with this, OUCS particularly collaborates with the Oxford e-Research Centre (OeRC) and other relevant University units to investigate the development of tools to support the administration and auditing of research activity. This activity includes an emphasis on assisting with project management and the sharing of research information and outputs, especially across disciplinary boundaries. We expect this to be an important use of the Nexus groupware services, but recently OUCS has also been successful in attracting two externally-funded projects in this area via the JISC – Embedding Institutional Data Curation Services in Research (EIDCSR) and Supporting Data Management infrastructure for the Humanities (Sudamih).
OUCS also acts as a major bridge with national funding agencies such as HEFCE, JISC, the Research Councils, and seeks sponsorship for major IT projects through the Development Office, OUCS’s own Research Facilitator, and KTPs. OUCS activities and project outputs contribute to relevant research and software development communities. In turn it will seek to inform faculties, departments, and colleges about new funding opportunities; as well as bidding for external grants to cover some of its own new initiatives.
Within our research strategy we identify three major themes that shape our research direction. These are:
Under these themes we have identified several key activities that we will attempt to pursue: e-learning, management of data, access and identity, infrastructure, security. Many of these are referenced throughout this report. In addition we also continually analyse data coming from use of our services to indicate levels of demand and changes therein. It is important to note all of this underpins development work at OUCS, but for the most part this can only take place if we attract new funding from the ICT Capital Envelope (internal) or research funding agencies (external) such as the JISC, ESRC, AHRC, etc.
In Appendix A we provide a list of our major objectives over the next five years, but with reference to research it is worth noting the following:
OUCS’s primary focus is on supporting the needs of the collegiate University. However, in so doing it offers support to faculties and departments seeking to engage more with the wider society. As noted elsewhere we have specific objectives in mind to assist the University in engaging with the wider society:
OUCS continues to improve its personnel procedures and career progression. Two documents are maintained for staff outlining career progression and decision-making at OUCS. OUCS staff are also encouraged to join internal SIGs, new teams, and trained in project management methodology. Through its IT Support Staff Service it also seeks to promote career development of the dispersed IT Staff. The OUCS ITLP training programme offers opportunities for skills development and IT training needs analysis to the personnel in the collegiate university. Furthermore our continued emphasis on staff reviews and rewards for excellence shows our commitment to developing our staff.
OUCS has made strenuous efforts to keep its FTE and headcount under control. Over the past four years our FTE has dropped by 6, and we continue to look for at each post as it becomes vacant. It should be noted though that sometimes eternal factors change our staffing, e.g. with Nexus becoming a service in April 2010 we estimate our FTE count will rise by 3.
Although OUCS is not directly involved in this activity as it does not deal with admissions, nor is it involved in student recruitment, it does provide services which assist in these activities. In addition, as noted above any major change in the size or demographic of the student body will possibly affect the demands on some of the services offered by OUCS. For example, increased recruitment of international students will necessitate seamless access to the Universities from increasing numbers of remote sites. Moreover, changes to the admissions process and recording of student data may also impact on our services. A good example has been the move to Single Sign-on for the Oracle Student Systems. This has also allowed us to facilitate access to systems for students 'under offer'. However, this, of course, offers the potential for OUCS and other service providers (e.g. colleges, Student Administrations) to provide services for accepted students prior to their formal admissionto the University.
As noted earlier (‘Teaching and Learning’), WebLearn is increasingly bringing together tools that will support teaching and OUCS is proactively working with Student Systems, participating in the ongoing review of student administration and services. OUCS has also helped the dissemination and promotion of material to do with admissions in such initiatives as iTunes U; and is looking to roll-out a video-conferencing service in 2010 partly driven by the needs of the admissions interviewing process.
In Appendix A we provide a list of our major objectives over the next five years, but with reference to admissions it is worth noting the following:
5.3. Academic and Student Services
This section has primary relevance to OUCS as it focuses on service provision, and the underlying infrastructure, though as will be obvious OUCS has contributions to make to all the above categories. We have already noted earlier that a key priority of OUCS is to maintain its core service provision and to expand this (as directed by the divisions and if resourced accordingly). Here we look at specific targets for the next five years.
OUCS is currently undertaking a series of major projects that will directly enhance the services offered to staff and students. These are integrated with the plans set out by the Office for the Director of IT.
In addition to these major initiatives OUCS also, on an ongoing basis:
Considering our activities since the last five-year plan we would highlight, in particular, the following achievements (see also the previous points in ‘Teaching and Learning’ and ‘Resaerch’, and OUCS’s Annual Report 2008-2009):
These are but some of the achievements over the year and are presented here as a representative sample showing the diversity of major new launches, and service developments.
In terms of underlying trends we constantly analyse user data and feedback and have observed: increasing demands for mobile support and wireless technology; greater demands on the network, need to consider carbon-impact of IT projects and green issues, virtualisation, increasing penetration of Macs resulting in more support demands, and a need to look more proactively at service oriented architecture for joining up core systems and services. The University is in an excellent position to take forward all of this provided sufficient funding is made available. Changes are also taking place with telecoms, and OUCS (now in charge of Telecoms) is gradually rolling out such initiatives as Voice over IP.
Although our ability to develop existing services or launch new ones is extremely limited, without any development or enhancement budget, we attempt to maintain some flexibility through our pay-per-use service – NSMS. This invaluable resource allows us to offer new services more quickly, albeit on a chargeable basis.
Specifically therefore, over the next five years OUCS plans to achieve a series of objectives listed in Appendix A1. These will be the responsibility of several groups across the department, and many will be in conjunction with ODIT. Of the ones listed there some key initiatives stand out:
We are also considering, in some detail:
How we can achieve greater energy efficiencies within the department, and reduce our carbon impact. This is ranging from power efficiency initiatives to procurement policies. We also seek to advise others on this.
Linked to the above we will be undergoing an examination of the possible benefits arising from the virtualisation of our services, where possible, particularly with reference to the opportunity offered to us by the new Central Machine Room.
It is becoming increasingly the case that many of the projects and objectives we undertake nowadays are collaborative efforts with OULS, UAS, BSP, ICT ST, and local units. We envisage that this will continue to grow as all central units seek to rationalise costs and integrate systems.
The buildings and facilities at OUCS are currently running to capacity, and we note that some of our Type 1 services, and funded projects, require more offices. We do explore flexible working applications wherever possible to try to alleviate the issue..
Specifically therefore, over the next five years OUCS plans to:
As noted, we are also reviewing whether the building in its current state meets all its needs – possibly in partnership with CISCO. Most importantly the environmental issues are a constant consideration and the need to reduce our carbon footprint has to be at the forefront of any refurbishment. Careful thought has to be given to the way we process waste, sustain the building and the reduction in energy, all to ensure we maintain the University’s Environmental Sustainability Policy 2008. It is a major objective running throughout this plan to target our environmental impact wherever we can. The facilities will be rewired over the next 3 years enabling energy efficient lighting to be provided, and power consumption evaluation will become an integral part of our purchasing process.
The proposal approved by PICT to support video-conferencing in general and the piloting of the Cisco Webex service may prove useful to other departments in the University wishing to provide better support for remote working.
OUCS’s finance and administration is in full compliance with University Finance Regulations. The 2009 Statement of Compliance was completed without further recommendations. Quarterly management accounts comparing and commenting on significant variations from budget are submitted via the ASUC Divisional accounting structure together with updated year end forecasts. A budget submission process is also used to approve the Annual Budget.
In 2010 we will see the first enactment of the 123 charging model as resulting from the SFWG process. OUCS has been very proactive in this exercise and has provided costs for all its services, and metrics of use to feed into the charging model. However, it must be stressed that the calculations omit the important factor that during the SFWG process it was recognised that OUCS was considerably underfunded. We believe serious consideration should be given to this and in particular:
It is important that sufficient funding is diverted to IT projects and services, and money is made available to allow OUCS to upgrade its existing services, and add new ones as required. The financial burden of adding new IT services and maintaining them must be recognised by the University.
All of these issues were discussed at length in meetings with the Divisions following the Services Funding Working Group (SFWG) and a final report was submitted in 2008.
OUCS is doing all it can to reduce expenditure wherever possible. Specifically therefore, over the next five years OUCS plans to:
OUCS is governed by its Management sub-committee which has full divisional and collegiate representation. This in turn reports directly to the ICT Sub-committee of the Planning and Resource Allocation Committee (PRAC). The latter is a single point of governance for ICT across the collegiate University, and the principal advisory body to PRAC and Council and other University bodies on all aspects of ICT. It determines a strategy and policy framework for the collegiate University, and reviews the scale, quality and cost effectiveness of the services offered directly to users by the Oxford University Computing Services. It is establishing an ICT framework to enable centrally and locally provided services to work together efficiently, reliably and cost effectively.
Financially, as of 2010 OUCS will also be presenting directly to the BSC alongside other central IT providers.
5.6.1. Risk Management Strategy:
As with all departments and divisions OUCS prepares and maintains an annual risk register. However, with reference to this plan the risk to the University of not completing or achieving most of the above mainly falls under two categories. First our IT infrastructure will be compromised, especially with relation to business continuity; but also in terms of the facilities we can offer to the staff and students. Oxford would begin to seriously fall behind its competitors in terms of what it can support. Second, picking up on a common theme throughout this plan, unless the critical funding issues identified by the SFWG meetings are tackled then key services will be put at risk.
OUCS has also worked on its disaster recovery plans and business continuity planning. In particular we now have:
We have also begun to adopt a dual-site resilience for core services (notably Nexus) and with the advent of the CMR this will be developed further.
5.6.2. Key Performance Indicators:
As noted above OUCS now has an established process whereby its performance is assessed by the users (via the OUCS Management Sub-committee), and its plans are aligned to user demands. This includes:
Appendix A: I. Proposed New Objectives, 2010-2015
II. Items Requiring over £50k expenditure
The following items are drawn from the above list of objectives. In certain areas these have been aggregated together to match presentations in the ICT Capital Envelope.