OS culture

DMU

Windows throughout admin and management areas. Mostly Windows in academic research and student IT labs with about 400 Mac users. UNIX in specialized Computing area. Very little Linux.

Writtle

Writtle is in the process of changing its OS structure. While the majority of MIS systems reside in a UNIX environment [DEC-Alpha True 64 Unix (HEMIS, Resource 32000), AIX (Dynix)], the rest of the institution is moving to a more closely integrated MS Windows environment, including the transition from Netware to Win2000 server.

St Andrews

Linux, Solaris, MacOS, Windows (various)

UEA

Mixed. Windows and Unix are supported centrally. Linux support being developed. Other OS (notably Mac OS) present in, and supported by, some schools. Sunderland -- Windows NT upgrade to Win2000 Summer 2003 Unix for major business systems and are supported by the IT Service. Linux, Mac OS present and supported by, some schools. Ravensbourne -- Windows, OSX, Linux

Student Information System

DMU

QLS from Microcompass

Writtle

HEMIS

St Andrews

SITS

UEA

Systems developed and maintained in-house. Multiple functions, with those relevant to Martini including student registration, course and unit enrolment, marks.

Sunderland

SITS

Ravensbourne

QLS

Human resource Management

DMU

Rebus for HR and payroll

Writtle

The HR software in use at Writtle is Professional Personnel. This is not integrated in any way with GIMIS or any other system. This decision was made by the GIMIS team on the grounds of Data Protection.

St Andrews

Integrated payroll/personnel system called ResourceLink supplied by Northgate. Client/server application with the client written in ProIV and the server based on an Oracle 8.1.7 database running on a Solaris server.

UEA

In-house HR system developed & maintained by UEA CIS but dated (1988) allied with VisualBasic client-server enduser enquiry system; Reports generated by DataExpress and in-house developed report writer; UEA Pensions on bespoke CIS system in combination with MSAccess and manual systems; Payroll management uses HPAY from Grampian software - partial integration with HR system; UEA in process of selecting integrated HR & payroll system - seeking multi-module system with complete worklife tracking and use from hiring to pension as objective.

Sunderland

Microsoft Great Plains

Ravensbourne

None at present

Financial system

DMU

QLX from Microcompass

Writtle

Resource 32000 (CFACS)

St Andrews

Aptos, supplied by Capita. Client/server application with the client written in Uniface and the server based on an Oracle 8.1.7 database running on a Solaris server.

UEA

Debtors system developed and maintained in-house, includes automated invoicing (integrated with in-house accommodation system, student registration system etc), direct debit and instalment payment options. Accounting software standard for UEA is QL.

Sunderland

Oracle Financials

Ravensbourne

QLF plus QLX plus MidPay

Physical Resources

DMU

Just deciding on system

Writtle

FacilityCMIS (Timetabling)

St Andrews

Ad hoc in house systems. Some Access databases

UEA

Facility CMIS used for timetabling and roombooking (timetabling not yet fully operational.). Web-based front-end for roombooking enquiry developed in-house. Estates use CAD in combination with document management system, project management software (MS Project-based), bespoke maintenance management system; SQL used for Asbestos & space charging; access control system being piloted - CARDAX (SQL-based).

Sunderland

Project - estates managements/room booking/timetabling system(s)

Ravensbourne

None, some in-house systems

Library

DMU

Talis

Writtle

Dynix

St Andrews

SAULCAT, Page-CAT, MSSC

UEA

The Library has recently migrated to the Aleph 500 integrated library system to handle all aspects of library work; Web-based OPAC, circulation, acquisitions, cataloguing and in 2003, interlibrary lending. The Library also uses exLibris' MetaLib as a resource portal & cross-searching facility and SFX as its citation linking software. The Library also supports CITRIX metaframe on a NT terminal server to run our networked CD-ROM service on IRIS software.

Sunderland

Currently Dynix. Awaiting return of tenders for new library system. Implementation projected to go live early summer 2003. New LMS will feed into the MLE.

Ravensbourne

Horizon / Sunrise

Learning Environment

DMU

WebCT until now. Currently in tender for replacement of existing VLE.

Writtle

At present Writtle has no VLE installation. It is envisaged that over the next 12 months, GIMIS will be expanded to fill this role in a manner suited to Writtle.

St Andrews

Various: TAGS, MMS, WebCT, numerous ad hoc School-level systems

UEA

Blackboard has been selected as the UEA "standard" VLE and is being introduced incrementally to UEA departments.

Sunderland

WebCT

Ravensbourne

None, some in-house subsystems

Groupware

DMU

Exchange for staff and researchers; Sun's SIMS for students

Writtle

None at present, although workflow, scheduling etc are being developed as part of GIMIS.

St Andrews

TAGS Notebook, TAGS FileShare, e-mail

UEA

UEA uses Simeon and MS Outlook as email systems with a strategy of migrating from the former to the latter. Bulletin software is supported and personal diary software exists but with no corporate standard.

Sunderland

Project - collaborative systems (e-mail, bulletin boards, diaries, etc)

Ravensbourne

Groupware: Mail (IMAP/SMTP) News (NNTP) Calendar (Oracle Calendar)

Content / Document Management Systems

DMU

Tridion

Writtle

GIMIS has a content and document management element which is used for the direct publication of documents for both students and staff. The delivery of material is done via conversion "on-demand", and is formatted to the user's chosen style (fonts, colours, additional markup) to cater for any special visual requirements of the user. The "on-demand" delivery is performed by OutsideInServer, which performs live conversions of a multiplicity of document and image formats to HTML and web compatible images.

St Andrews

TAGS FileShare

UEA

Document management systems exist but vary according to department and administrative unit.

Sunderland

Zope + CMF + Plone

Ravensbourne

CMS: None, some in house subsystems

Directory Service

DMU

Novell NDS moving currently to e-Directory

Writtle

Writtle will be using Active Directory, starting in late 2002. GIMIS will integrate with ADS for authentication and information purposes.

St Andrews

Campus LDAP server provides ITS user names, and verifies ITS name/password pairs. Computer Science LDAP server authenticates Compter Sciencename/password pairs. INSIDE systems make use of both.

UEA

Authentication of all UEA staff & students via LDAP directory. We will shortly be moving to Active Directory.

Sunderland

LDAP

Ravensbourne

Directories: LDAP with NT SAM integration

Single Sign-on

DMU

Part of e-Directory project

Writtle

We intend to resolve single sign-on issues, once ADS is installed.

St Andrews

Campus LDAP server provides ITS user names, and verifies ITS name/password pairs. Computer Science LDAP server authenticates Compter Sciencename/passwd pairs. INSIDE systems make use of both. As of August 2002, Computer Science is using the same ids as ITS. Different passwords are necssary however, for the different systems.

UEA

Single sign on for Martini in-place. UEA uses LDAP directory for many corporate resources but other authentication systems are in place for specific functions (e.g. ATHENS for Library resources).

Sunderland

We have achieved single authentication for the MLE, VLE and SIS; however, not single sign-on.

Ravensbourne

Being vigorously pursued via LDAP with NT SAM integration.

Approach to portals

DMU

For staff using Microsoft tools currently web delivered or through CITRIX Web, uPortal for MLE

Writtle

GIMIS is currently accessed via a portal. The portal differs in content between staff and student users.

St Andrews

INSIDE at St Andrews has produced a Module Management System which integrates some VLE and MLE functionality and provides role-based user-centric portals, with respect to modules, for students and staff. Central Services provide a scheme, solely for staff, called the Data Warehouse. This takes 24-hourly updates from SITS and organises the student record and module data into a presentable format. The Data Warehouse presents the same interface to all users.

UEA

UEA uses "portals" in a variety of contexts; in the Library, UEA is using MetaLib as a portal to all Library resources, and, also provides links to other JISC-created subject portals (eg. AHDS, BIOME). UEA is reviewing its corporate information strategy but is committed to supporting MARTINI as a student information portal in future.

Sunderland

SMILE is accessed via the my.sunderland portal. Content can be targeted to Staff, Students and individual users.

Ravensbourne

We have institutional and technological vision. Some self-developed systems although not a portal. Happy to have wider discussion in this subject area.