CENTRE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS
INTRODUCTION
IInformation Technology (IT) permeates all aspects of teaching, learning, research, outreach, and facilities functions of the University. Safeguarding information and information systems is essential to preserve the ability of the University to perform its missions and to meet its responsibilities towards students and staff. The Centre for Information Technology and Systems (CITS) is a provider of such IT services through its Integrated Information Systems and resilient network infrastructure.
SUMMARY OF MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The following projects were successfully implemented/ completed from 01 August 2006 to 31 July 2007: A WIFI (Wireless Fidelity) network sponsored by Enterprise Data Services, was implemented on the campus for accessing the Internet. The hot spots are located at the Lobby of Engineering Tower Block, Raized Plaza, in front of Lecture Theatres 1 and 2 of the Academic Complex, in front of cafeteria, part of University Student Centre, outside Staff Club and in front of Faculty of Agriculture. A Pearson VUE Testing Centre was implemented at the University of Mauritius. A new MAC G5 server was implemented for University of Mauritius staff email system. The mail security server at University of Mauritius was upgraded. A server was installed for the posting of information papers for Senate and Teaching and Learning Committee on Sentry File electronic filing system. This server is accessible via the Internet to authenticated users. An additional 1 Mbps ADSL line was installed to increase the Internet access bandwidth available at the University of Mauritius. The University of Mauritius website was enhanced by replacing the static center graphic with an animated design. One medium duty LaserJet printer was installed at the Faculty of Agriculture CITS computer lab for subsidized paid printing service. Two additional Local Academies, namely, University of Antananarivo (Republic of Madagascar) and the Cyberite Co. Ltd. have been registered under the University of Mauritius Cisco Regional Academy. The following developments/enhancements were brought to the University’s Management Information System (MIS) from 01 August 2006 to 31 July 2007. Student Information System (SIS) - A Module Directory for providing information about modules offered at the University was posted on the University of Mauritius website. - Module Equivalence for converting semester modules to yearly modules was implemented. - Online Feedback Questionnaire for DE modules was implemented on the Student Online Systems.
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Mr R Halkhoree Officer in Charge
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- Regulations for verifying borderline cases for final year students were implemented on the Student Information System. - Regulations pertaining to Self-Study Module and Volunteering Module were implemented on the Student Information System. - A feature for printing of congratulations letters for final year students was implemented. - An online survey for the Posting of Marks Sub-System was designated and implemented. - A new feature for encryption of password was implemented on the Posting of Marks Sub-System. - Maintenance was effected on the SIS to prevent student debtors from accessing their results via: - Notice Board Reports; - Student Transcripts; and - Congratulations letters. - Special Senate Examinations Sub-Committee Reports and Students’ Transcript were implemented for the Examinations Office. Admissions and Nominal Roll System Faculty Registration System
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Cash Collection System (CCS) - Major amendments were made to various modules and reports pertaining to the system to facilitate the tracking of debtors and to cater for payment by standing order. Student Online System Online Application System - Following the change in the Application Form format, new online undergraduate and postgraduate application systems were developed. Online Module Registration System (OMRS) - The system has been modified to prevent student debtors from accessing the online Module Enrolment Form. - The system has been enhanced to monitor the opening and closing of the online module registration. Human Resource System The following modules from the Human Resource System have been completely re-designed to cater for end-user needs and keep pace with new technologies: Registration Module Scheme of Service Module Leaves Modules Conditions of Service Module General Maintenance Module Consultancy Module Employee Budget Module.
- The system has been completely redesigned on vb.net due to new requirements and renamed to URSnet (University Registration System). This new system is linked to Cash Collection System, Admissions Systems, Student Information System and Online Module Registration System. - A feature to check student has been added to the system to help Faculty tracking debtors, this will also prevent students to access Online Module Registration System and omit their names from Transcript and Notice Board Reports. Admission System - Selection criteria pertaining to Admission System was modified to meet new requirements. - “Letter of Offer” Report has been re-designed and modifications were made to the system to help the tracking of student debtors. -
STATISTICS
CITS Staff attended to about 2429 IT related job requests. 6665 applications were received for the online undergraduate system from 19 March to 15 June 2007 and 4446 applications were confirmed. 1036 applications were received for the online postgraduate system from 07 May to 16 July 2007 and 542 applications were confirmed.
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ATTENDANCE AT SEMINARS/CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS
Mr D Ayaloo attended the following: (i) Training Course on “ISO 20000:2005” organised by SGS (Mauritius) Ltd, 12 August 2006. (ii) “Open Source Instructional Software” organised by VCILT, 22 March 2007. (iii) ORACLE “Fusion Middleware Roundtable” organised by Oracle Corporation,03 May 2007. (iv) Work-Based Learning Workshop organised by CPDL, 23, 30 May and 08 June 2007 respectively. Mr S Chuckhorry and Mr K Ramen attended the Training Course on “ISO 20000:2005” organised by SGS (Mauritius) Ltd, 12 August 2006. Mr R Halkhoree attended the following: (i) National ICT Strategic Plan (NICTSP) Workshop organised by the National Computer Board, 26 September 2006. (ii) National ICT Strategic Plan (NICTSP) Round Table Discussion on Information Security Strategy: Building Trust in the use of ICTs organised by the National Computer Board, 04 December 2006. (iii) Work-Based Learning Workshop organised by CPDL, 23, 30 May and 08 June 2007 respectively.
Miss C Jahajeeah attended the following: (i) Implementation Training Course on ISO 27001:2005, Information Security Management System organised by SGS (Mauritius) Ltd, 10 and 11 August 2006. (ii) Oracle Support Day organised by DCDM, Le Meridien, 10 October 2006. (iii) Portefeuille et Stratégie Software organised by the IBM Group, 25 June 2007. Mr G Kaniah attended the following: (i) Oracle Support Day organised by DCDM, Le Meridien, 10 October 2006. (ii) ORACLE “Fusion Middleware Roundtable” organised by Oracle Corporation, 03 May 2007. Miss A D Maywah and Mrs I Pudaruth attended the Open Source Instructional Software organised by VCILT, 22 March 2007. Mr S Soocheta attended the Seminar on Information Security organised by the National Computer Board, 30 November 2006.
TRAINING OF CITS PERSONNEL
PROGRAMME
1. Instructor Training Course for CCNA 2 2. CCNA 1 3. Instructor Training Course for IT Essentials 1
INSTITUTION
CITS (CNAP)*, University of Mauritius CITS (CNAP)*, University of Mauritius CITS (CNAP)*, University of Mauritius
PERIOD
18 Aug - 08 Sept 2006 11 Sept – 10 Nov 2006 13 – 17 Nov 2006
STAFF
Mr R Halkhoree Mr A Jhowry Mr G Kaniah Miss A D Maywah Mrs I Pudaruth Mrs R Venethethan Mr A Futloo Mr G Kaniah Miss A D Maywah Mr K Muthen Mrs I Pudaruth Mrs R Venethethan
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4. Instructor Training Course for IT Essentials 2
CITS (CNAP)*, University of Mauritius
20 – 24 Nov 2006
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5. LPI 101 & 102
AUF
04 – 13 Dec 2006
Mr S Chuckhorry Ms C Jahajeeah Mr G Kaniah Mr A Nowbuth Mr D Sooklall Mr A Jhowry Mr A Jhowry
6. CCNA 2 7. CCNA 3
CITS (CNAP)*, University of Mauritius CITS (CNAP)*, University of Mauritius
15 Jan – 10 Mar 2007 10 Apr – 06 Jun 2007
* Cisco Networking Academy Programme
MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES
Mr R Halkhoree - Member of the C-SAC School of Advanced Computing Board of Studies. - Member of the National Computer Board Website Competition 2006 Jury Panel. - Member of the National Computer Board Anti-Spam Committee. - Member of the Tender Appraisal Committee for the supply and installation of hardware structure for hosting the application software developed to computerise the Levy/Grant Accounting and Payroll Systems at the Human Resources Development Council. Miss C Jahajeeah - Member of the MQA Technical Appraisal Committee-MIS.
CISCO CCNA Programme (5th batch) Seventy-four (74) participants followed the CCNA 1 programme from 11 September to 10 November 2006. Fifty-seven (57) participants followed the CCNA 2 programme from 15 January to 10 March 2007. Forty-two (42) participants followed the CCNA 3 programme from 10 April to 06 June 2007.
CCNA Instructor Course One (1) participant followed the CCNA 2 Instructor Course from 18 August to 08 September 2006. MBC Training Short Course A tailor made course on Networking technologies was offered to sixteen (16) staff of MBC and three (3) staff of MCA, from 16 to 31 August 2006.
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VISITORS TRAINING OFFERED
IT Essentials Instructor Course Fifteen (15) participants followed the IT Essentials 1 Instructor Training Course from 13 to 17 November 2006. Thirteen (13) participants followed the IT Essentials 2 Instructor Training Course from 20 to 24 November 2006. Mr Hamid Alfie, Cisco Africa Area Manager and Mr Renaldo Rheeder, CATC Legal Main Contact, from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University visited the University of Mauritius Regional Academy on 30 August 2006.
OTHER EVENTS
CITS participated in the INFOTECH 2006 at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre, Pailles, from 16 to 19 November 2006.
CISCO CCNA Programme (4th batch) The 4th batch of CCNA students completed CCNA 4 on 20 August 2006. Forty (40) students successfully graduated the whole programme from CCNA 1 to CCNA 4.
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STAFF MATTERS
Name APPOINTMENTS Mr D Ayaloo Mr S Chuckhorry Mr G Kaniah Mr K Muthen Mr D Sooklall Mr K Sungkur Miss R Boojhawon Miss R Hossenbux Mr K Jeetoo Mr S Ramsaha Mr K Ramtalle Mr V Sham Mrs R Venethethan PROMOTIONS Mrs K Sowamber RESIGNATIONS Mr A Rosunee Mr K Jeetoo Mr S Ramsaha Miss D Maunick Director Analyst Programmer Analyst Programmer Technical Assistant 09 August 2006 15 January 2007 23 March 2007 16 April 2007 Senior Word Processing Operator 19 February 2007
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Post
Effective Date
Systems Analyst Systems Analyst Systems Administrator Web Multimedia Developer Systems Analyst Systems Administrator Clerk Clerk Analyst Programmer Analyst Programmer Analyst Programmer Analyst Programmer Web Multimedia Developer
01 August 2006 01 August 2006 01 August 2006 01 August 2006 01 August 2006 01 August 2006 13 November 2006 13 November 2006 03 January 2007 03 January 2007 03 January 2007 03 January 2007 02 April 2007