INTER-UNIVERSITY COUNCIL for EAST AFRICA
Theme:ICT in education and Training: Trends, Risks
and opportunities.
27th –28th November 2006
“Integrating ICT in the University functions - The
achievements, challenges and new directions. “
F.F. Tusubira and Nora Mulira
Presenter: David Kiwana
http://www.makerere.ac.ug/dicts/team/
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
Why ICT ? - Organisational transformation
• Supporting the student centered E-learning
paradigm
• Enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of
student and staff research through access to
local and international online resources
• Enabling international research collaboration
• Enabling efficiency of academic and
administrative management of students.
• Enabling efficiency of administrative processes
• Enabling cheap, efficient, timely communication
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
ICT Policy and Master Plan
(ICTP/MP) (1) – A journey of 1,000 miles….
• Are the two most important documents
guiding the systematic integration of ICT
into the university‟s core functions
• Formulation process of both the first and
revised documents focused on acceptance
and ownership, involving members of the
University Council, Academic & Admin
Management, Staff, and Students
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
ICTP/MP (2)
• First version covered 2000-2004 period:
Identified key ICT services and systems
needed to „kick start‟ the transformation
at the University
• Second version ( revision) covers 2005-
2009 period: Addresses deficiencies noted
in the first version; Captures the future
ICT directions focusing on access and
efficiency gains.
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
Data network infrastructure
Intra / inter campus backbone
21Mbps (combined down and up links) from UTL,
MTN and the VSAT through the E.A.
Universities consortium. Cost about $40,000 per
month.
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
Main campus Fibre Optic Backbone
Data network LAW
Infrastructure MISR
IACE
Sch. Education
Sch. Fine Art
ICS DOSATE
DAG Psychology
Lin.
Flats
Senate building.
Estates
F/SS Agric
MUIE
F/Arts
Main Building
Main Library
F/Science F/Forestry
Cisco 3524
Redundant Link
EASL
ISAE F/Chem
F/Tech
MATHS
D/Zoology
Veterinary IENR D/Physics
WARM
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
Faculty of Medicine fiber
backbone
Psychology
Albert Cook
IPH
Clinical research
Bio-chemistry
Psychology
Pharmacology
Pharmacy
Anatomy
Hospital
Physiology
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
MUBS fiber backbone
Administration
Staff resource center
Dean’s block
Accounts
Small business center
Postgraduate
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
MUARIK fiber backbone
Custodian
Bio-tec lab
CAEK
Girls’ hostel
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
Makerere.. Changing low level Indicators
• Indicator 2000 2005 2007
• ICT literate staff 300 3000
• Networked computers300 2700
• LANS 15(Poor) 40(Good)
• Backbone (Gigabit) None 16km
• Bandwidth in 128kbps 15Mbps 21Mbps
• Email users 300 7000
• Online journals 0 8000
• Internal ICT budget $25,000 $700,000
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
University ICT Outreach
• ICT Policy and Master Plans for other institutions
(government, universities)
• Open source software development, as a node in
the African Virtual Open Initiatives and
Resources
• Contracted by the DFID and Sida supported
CATIA Project to expand the NetTel capacity
building network for ICT Policy and Regulation
to eight African Countries
• Uganda Telecom Sector Policy Review
• Uganda Development Gateway
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
IRM: DICTS
• DICTS – not just infrastructure support, but,
more importantly, knowledge and
transformational support – transforming
Makerere into a knowledge university
• What are the challenges and solutions in
translating ICT investment to organisational
transformation?
• How can we quantify organisational efficiency
gains and hence justify investment in ICT?
• What are the causes and how can we improve
the low success rate of information system
projects in Africa?
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
IRM- DICTS
• Network management and optimisation
• Monitoring and optimising the quality of links
through to the Internet
• Development of network management tools
using open source software
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
ICTP/MP II ( 2004-2009 ): The Future
Information system II:
enabling web based controlled access to all
information systems by all staff and students, and
the public;
building capacity for in-house s/w development
ensuring 24/7 availability/continuity of ICT services.
E-learning:
Setting up infrastructure to support E-learning and
building sufficient capacity to use and support the
infrastructure – and devolution of E-learning to an
independent unit
DICTS: Building capacity as a knowledge support unit
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
ICTP/MP II ( 2004-2009 ):The Future..
Maknet II:
Increasing access points to university ICT resources
and services (extending fiber backbones to all
buildings, setting PC LANs in halls/admin
buildings, creating wireless hotspots in common
areas & conference rooms).
Student computer and training resources:
working towards a centralized general purpose
computer labs for students, setting-up networked
LANs in faculties
Smart Campus:
setting up infrastructure to support the use of smart
card systems for access to services and building
capacity to support it.
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
ICTP/MP II ( 2004-2009): Cost ($)
MAKLIBIS II (Infrastructure) 300,000
Information Systems II 1,100,000
Student computing and 6,200,000
training resources
E-Learning I 2,400,000
Smart Campus I 100,000
MAKNET-II 3,100,000
DICTS PhD Training 600,000
TOTAL 13,800,000
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
We have not arrived yet! (1)
University Management needs to take
leadership in deploying this strategic resource
University Management needs to own and
direct the Vision…
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
Challenges …(1)
E-learning: starting, or space for multimedia
labs
Student access – still woefully limited, typically
1:30
Compulsory computer skills course – developed
by FCIT, not given a go ahead
University web pages – the modern public
relations interface; neglected.
Computers and literacy for staff – being quietly
forgotten
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
Challenges …(2)
Sustainability – need to implement the
approved per capita instead of a percentage
contribution to stop the perennial time wasted
on looking for funds for bandwidth
Staff induction – including Executive
Development – a challenge for DICTS and the
entire University (also an attitude challenge)
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
Opportunities …
Inter-university network
Makerere has taken a formal lead in Research and
education network of Uganda (RENU).
-4 universities and 2 research organizations
-formed in February 2006 to initiate higher education
collaboration in education and research.
Development of an inter-univeristy registration system
started in october 2007 . Pilot launch in March 2007.
software incubator -A team that cycles top performing
students as apprentices in the development of
innovative software .
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University
CONCLUSION
• “We are what we
repeatedly do.
Excellence is not
an event: it is a
habit” - Aristotle
THANK YOU
Directorate for ICT Support, Makerere University