Information Strategy of Information Strategy of Newcastle UniversityNewcastle University

Paul HopkinsDirector – Information Systems and

ServicesUniversity of Newcastle upon Tyne

Paul.Hopkins@newcastle.ac.uk

Newcastle University Newcastle University

• North East EnglandNorth East England• Founded 1834Founded 1834• 17,000 students17,000 students• 3 Faculties, 30 3 Faculties, 30

SchoolsSchools• $450m turnover $450m turnover • $100m Research$100m Research

Mission & Key InitiativesMission & Key Initiatives

• To deliver world-class research, world-To deliver world-class research, world-class teaching and support the class teaching and support the economic development of North East economic development of North East EnglandEngland

• ““Value For Money”Value For Money”• ““Full Economic Cost” of researchFull Economic Cost” of research• 50% of school children to go to 50% of school children to go to

UniversityUniversity• Need to find new sources of fundingNeed to find new sources of funding

Newcastle’s IT SituationNewcastle’s IT Situation

• Single campus, centralised IT Single campus, centralised IT approachapproach

• Strong IT infrastructure skills Strong IT infrastructure skills • Operate Regional academic network (5 Operate Regional academic network (5

Universities, 23 Colleges, 450,000 Universities, 23 Colleges, 450,000 users)users)

• 125 IT staff125 IT staff• $10m allocation from University, plus $10m allocation from University, plus

$3m external earned income$3m external earned income

IT GoalIT Goal

• By November 2007, to give the best By November 2007, to give the best University based IT service in the UK!University based IT service in the UK!

• ““Simple” (not easy!) infrastructure, Simple” (not easy!) infrastructure, “Common desktop”, integrated “Common desktop”, integrated applications, highly resilientapplications, highly resilient

• Focus continually on CUSTOMER Focus continually on CUSTOMER SERVICESERVICE

• ……Numbers, numbers, numbers!Numbers, numbers, numbers!

Newcastle’s IT PhilosophyNewcastle’s IT Philosophy• For core applications, use mainstream For core applications, use mainstream

vendors (Microsoft, SAP, Oracle etc)vendors (Microsoft, SAP, Oracle etc)• For “Niche”/emerging applications (eg For “Niche”/emerging applications (eg

timetabling, VLEs etc) use best of breedtimetabling, VLEs etc) use best of breed• For exploratory or small-scale use develop For exploratory or small-scale use develop

in-housein-house• Go for campus-wide licensing, go for thin-Go for campus-wide licensing, go for thin-

client access in addition client access in addition • Develop “Service Oriented Architecture” Develop “Service Oriented Architecture”

approach – “Web Services” based on open approach – “Web Services” based on open standardsstandards

Newcastle’s IT ArchitectureNewcastle’s IT Architecture

• Move towards “Dark Fibre”-based regional Move towards “Dark Fibre”-based regional networknetwork

• Campus & dormitories cabled – wireless as Campus & dormitories cabled – wireless as a complimentary networka complimentary network

• 10,000 desktops on campus including 10,000 desktops on campus including 1,500 in student cluster-rooms1,500 in student cluster-rooms

• >90% Active Directory managed Common >90% Active Directory managed Common desktops (- huge success!)desktops (- huge success!)

• Small, but significant, Apple and Unix user Small, but significant, Apple and Unix user groupsgroups

Microsoft EnvironmentMicrosoft Environment

• Largely, MS desktops, mainly MS servers Largely, MS desktops, mainly MS servers (but significant Linux and Solaris servers)(but significant Linux and Solaris servers)

• All XP, Server 2003, Exchange, MS Office, All XP, Server 2003, Exchange, MS Office, growing SharePoint use etcgrowing SharePoint use etc

• Campus Agreement, special deals for Campus Agreement, special deals for student purchases, Remote Accessstudent purchases, Remote Access

• Try to stay at leading edge of MS Try to stay at leading edge of MS technologies (eg Collaborative technologies (eg Collaborative computing)computing)

Applications ArchitectureApplications Architecture

• SAP-dominated administrative systemsSAP-dominated administrative systemsHR/Payroll, Finances, Purchasing -1999HR/Payroll, Finances, Purchasing -1999Student Records-2003Student Records-2003Portal, CRM, Data Warehouse, Workflow, Portal, CRM, Data Warehouse, Workflow,

document management – 2005document management – 2005• Best of Breed – Blackboard (VLE), Scientia Best of Breed – Blackboard (VLE), Scientia

(Timetable)(Timetable)• In-house – Accommodation, e-Portfolios, In-house – Accommodation, e-Portfolios,

Shibboleth, SMS Text-messaging etcShibboleth, SMS Text-messaging etc• Starting move towards SOA architecture – Starting move towards SOA architecture –

backbone of XML/http web services to link backbone of XML/http web services to link all applicationsall applications

Customer-Centric VisionsCustomer-Centric Visions

• Any-time, Any-place, Any-thing on Any Any-time, Any-place, Any-thing on Any devicedevice

• ““Peace of mind” computing Peace of mind” computing experience for students and experience for students and researchersresearchers

• Timely, accurate and consistent data Timely, accurate and consistent data for administratorsfor administrators

• Self-service ITSelf-service IT

Some major areas of Some major areas of benefitsbenefits

By implementing Active Directory across more than 9,200 By implementing Active Directory across more than 9,200 desktops on Campus…desktops on Campus…

• We have eliminated or radically reduced the issues of We have eliminated or radically reduced the issues of different software versions on different machines, security different software versions on different machines, security updates etcupdates etc

• We have all user application data stored on public drives – We have all user application data stored on public drives – not on c: drivesnot on c: drives

• We need very few (1-2 full time staff) to manage ALL these We need very few (1-2 full time staff) to manage ALL these machinesmachines

• We can remotely re-build machines and roll-out new We can remotely re-build machines and roll-out new applications with easeapplications with ease

Huge benefits, financially and service wise! Huge benefits, financially and service wise! Example, recently rolled out CONDOR across 1500 desktops – Example, recently rolled out CONDOR across 1500 desktops –

this has given us a large GRID computer at almost zero this has given us a large GRID computer at almost zero cost. We may increase to 10,000 computers ultimately…cost. We may increase to 10,000 computers ultimately…

Integrated AdministrationIntegrated Administration Newcastle have implemented, (at great expense Newcastle have implemented, (at great expense

and effort!), a full range of SAP modules. However, and effort!), a full range of SAP modules. However, the benefits are now starting to really come the benefits are now starting to really come through…through…

1.1. Accurate and timely basic information across the Accurate and timely basic information across the entire Universityentire University

2.2. ““Future-proof” - Rock-solid basis for developing Future-proof” - Rock-solid basis for developing other applications, lower risk of vendor other applications, lower risk of vendor “disappearing”“disappearing”

3.3. Competitive advantage – we hope to dramatically Competitive advantage – we hope to dramatically increase our market share of international increase our market share of international postgraduates next year (each one worth $15,000)postgraduates next year (each one worth $15,000)

4.4. Can attract IT staff from outside Education. In Can attract IT staff from outside Education. In future, we could “out-source” or set up a “shared future, we could “out-source” or set up a “shared service centres” for many Universitiesservice centres” for many Universities

Collaboration BenefitsCollaboration BenefitsWe have 5 Universities and 23 colleges in the Region, We have 5 Universities and 23 colleges in the Region,

connected by a Data Network. Although we compete connected by a Data Network. Although we compete at certain levels, we now actively collaborate in IT. at certain levels, we now actively collaborate in IT. Examples:-Examples:-

• Talk to vendors as a “group”Talk to vendors as a “group”• Do things “once” not “n” times (eg e-mail filtering)Do things “once” not “n” times (eg e-mail filtering)• Share our “experts” – help each otherShare our “experts” – help each other• Put our servers/data into other machine roomsPut our servers/data into other machine rooms• Collaborative projects in Shibboleth and e-PortfoliosCollaborative projects in Shibboleth and e-PortfoliosWe have more in common than we have in differenceWe have more in common than we have in difference

SummarySummary

To become the “Best University based IT To become the “Best University based IT service in the UK…” we need toservice in the UK…” we need to

• Set targets, benchmark, measure our Set targets, benchmark, measure our performanceperformance

• Visit other Institutions, conferences etc to Visit other Institutions, conferences etc to look for trends and ideaslook for trends and ideas

• ““Steal with pride” ideas from Institutions Steal with pride” ideas from Institutions that provide better services than ourselves!that provide better services than ourselves!

• Collaborate with others (vendors and Collaborate with others (vendors and Universities)Universities)