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Integrating ICT in University Functions: A Case Study at Makerere University

Explore the journey of Makerere University in integrating ICT within its operations, addressing challenges, sustaining progress, and embracing the chaos of change.

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Integrating ICT in University Functions: A Case Study at Makerere University

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  1. Makerere University www.makerere.ac.ug Integrating ICT in the University functions F F Tusubirawww.fftusubira.com

  2. Contents • Motivation…the Chaos of Change • The Policy and Master Plan • The Data Network • Changing Indicators • The Data Network – Challenges • Operations – Challenges • Sustainability Challenge • Major Support Received • Master Plan II Costs • Academic Networking Opportunities • The Nascent Uganda Academic Network

  3. Motivation for ICT – The Chaos of Change • New student admission paradigm, from: exclusive to inclusive; sieving to enabling; largely academic to largely market driven; purely government to private funding • Chaos of Change: Numbers rose from about 5,000 to more than 20,000 in four years, and manual systems ground to a halt • ICT was not a fad: it was a survival need – to create efficiency and cost-effectiveness; enable research collaboration; generate the 21st century human resource.

  4. ICT Policy and Master Plan (ICTP/MP) – A journey of 1,000 miles…. • First version covered 2000-2004 period: Identified key ICT services and systems needed to ‘kick start’ the transformation at the University; (including data network) • Second version ( revision) covers 2005-2009 period: Addresses deficiencies noted in the first version; Captures the future ICT directions focusing on ubiquitous access and efficiency gains.

  5. The Data Network (1) • Four campuses: • Main campus – Makerere Hill, 300 acres • School of Medicine – 2km from Main Campus • Business School (MUBS)– 7km from Main Campus • Agricultural Research Institute (MUARIK) – 15km • First step: Rapid rollout of a wireless campus WAN (2.4Ghz) interconnecting 28 key buildings (2000). • All backbone single mode fibre; 150mm ducts laid all around campus for deployment of fibre as and when funds become available. • Backbone now running gigabit ethernet linking 56 buildings on four campuses

  6. The Data Network (2) • Layer 3 and layer 2 switches - Cisco 3550/4908 and 3512/2950; no hubs. • Design and operation based on TCP/IP network architecture; open standards ensure no lock-in to proprietary products/solutions • Network management platform developed locally using open source tools; ditto mail services • All academic and admin buildings now connected to backbone, each through a firewall on a linux machine • Interconnects: School of Medicine and MUBS via fibre backbone (leased capacity); MUARIK through leased terrestrial microwave link.

  7. The Data Network – Logical layout

  8. The Data Network - Example (3)

  9. Makerere.. Changing Indicators • Indicator 2000 2005 • ICT literate staff 300 3000 • Networked computers 300 2700 • LANS 15(Poor) 40(Good) • Backbone (Gigabit) None 16km • Bandwidth, total 192kbps 21Mbps • Active email users 300 7000 • Online journals 0 8000 • Internal ICT budget $25,000 $700,000

  10. The Data Network – Challenges (1) • Unreliable power – Have to implement expensive solutions to give key switch points 8 hours autonomy. • Limited IP space has meant use of private addresses, disabling monitoring and online support to PC level. Compounded in Makerere by getting access from two service providers (Two IP blocks) – trying to work around ICANN procedures to have own space. • Routing of internet traffic static – leading to poor bandwidth management • High cost of bandwidth: competitive sourcing from the private sector and maintaining at least two suppliers has brought current offers to $1,500 per Mbps per month – but still very expensive; Also working with consortia

  11. The Data Network – Challenges (2) • Hilly environment and old buildings – rolling out hot spots/ zones. (Also a cheaper solution). • Limited number of access points (PCs) for students (about 3,000 only) – rolling out kiosks on campus, including halls of residence; and starting implementation of a system to support staff to get their own computers.

  12. Operations – and Challenges • 16 technical staff (all levels); does not include network administrators at Faculty level or the students (about 30) who run internet kiosks: Push for high productivity • Scarcity of, and competition for competent human resource a challenge: Strategy used is to maintain an inflow by training and employing students. • Staff motivation: based largely on non-monetary benefits – especially regular opportunities for training, a level of autonomy in decision making, and a relaxed working environment • Quality of service and SLA assurance: Help Desk mode operationalised for entire unit; Automatic tracking of requests implemented; Call centre under pocurement

  13. The Sustainability Challenge • Heavy capital investment demands built in sustainability • Currently, development partner support funds 83% of capital expenditure • All recurrent expenditure (including bandwidth) is met from internal resources and direct government support • 2% of all income from private fees collection is set aside for ICT; Changing to a technology fee of $30 per student per annum, giving $1.3m per year in three years time – sufficient to meet recurrent and depreciation (replacement) costs.

  14. Major support (Phase 1)“I am because we are” • Sida / Sarec(SEK 35.3m) $3,300,000 • USAID/Leyland Initiative $800,000 • NORAD (NOK 9.5m) $1,100,000 • GoU(ADB loan) $1,000,000 • Makerere University $500,000 • NUFFIC (E-learning training) $120,000 • Carnegie Corporation $650,000 (support to main Library) • Various other partners $500,000 Total (cf projection of $11m) $8,470,000

  15. ICTP/MP II ( 2004-2009): Cost ($)

  16. Academic Networking - Opportunities • Liberal policy and regulatory environment: competition (and volume) has driven cost of bandwidth down (1Mbps per month: ~$20,000 five years ago, now a proposed $1,500); Self provision of VSATs allowed. • Policy and regulatory focus on national data backbone; private companies have already laid high capacity fibre backbone or microwave link within very easy reach of most HEIs. • Public and private universities all independent and can make quick decisions. • A formal forum of Vice Chancellors that meets regularly (now 18? members) • A regulator, National Council for Higher Education, that now requires quality and modern facilities • Increasing appreciation of mutual benefits of sharing resources – library, learning content, ICT facilities, etc.

  17. Nascent Uganda Academic Network • Initially mooted to 17 Vice-Chancellors of public and private institutions 3 years ago and approved. Activation through Academic Registrars has failed – Too many institutions that did not have commitment • 3 Vice Chancellors of universities (UCU Mukono – private; Makerere – Public; Kyambogo – Public) with access to the fibre backbone have now agreed to move ahead, starting with a few committed institutions • The ICT Directors are developing a working paper for a forum of Vice Chancellors planned for November 05 to formalise the initiative

  18. CONCLUSION • “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an event: it is a habit” - Aristotle THANK YOU

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