I&TS provides hosting for certain partners. In particular, close relationships exist between Albany Schools Network and the University resulting in fibre optic connectivity from the University to client schools. The location of the University in a rural town adds an interesting dynamic where many of the students are clustered together in private buildings. These “private residences” are connected via high speed fibre to the University network. Students sign up for an additional fee and connectivity is extended beyond the boundaries of the campus.  There are 15 private residences connected this way.

Modernisation of Rhodes University Systems
The University recognized that certain business processes and systems needed modernization. A subcommittee of F&GP was established. Chaired by the DVC Research and Innovation, the committee has representation from I&TS, Finance, Infrastructure and Operations, Faculty Deans, Institutional Planning.

The Committee is tasked with vetting all major software purchases, ensuring that sensible integration and single entry point of source data is adhered to at all times, there is no duplication of datasets and technologies are cost  effective. This oversight extends across all platforms including mobile application development and web  applications.

Each year a list of new projects is signed off by the committee and progress is reported to the F&GP Committee at  each meeting. Click here to see the current project list as well as progress on each project.

The main project for 2020 and 2021 is the modernization of the Finance System. In the second quarter of 2019, Oracle Cloud Financials was selected as the system of choice following a properly managed tender process.  Partnering with Visions a University team is making progress towards a go-live date of January 1st 2022. The full project progress can be found here.

SEALS, a consortium of Eastern Cape Higher Education libraries currently operate off servers administered from within the I&TS Division.  The University provides the server on which the SEALS consortium run databases that are interconnected from library to library, allowing students and staff across the Eastern Cape to gain access to the libraries at Rhodes University, Fort Hare, NMMU and Walter Sisulu.

Makana Digital Group

The University is also active in an attempt to connect the whole of Makhanda to limited internet access. The idea of this project is to position Hot Spots in the greater Makhanda East area, giving economically un-empowered households to a small digital foot print.  This project is in the design phases and a partner who will provide the sustainability for the future of the network is being sourced. The University can offer no funding for the project but is able to offer technical expertise and can leverage fund raising for such a project from government grants targeting connectivity of people.

Last Modified: Tue, 20 Oct 2020 10:11:32 SAST