The ict handbook for primary teachers a guide for students and professionals...
supatsela
1. UCT has initiated the supaTsela project to drive renewal of
information and communication technology (ICT) in the
university. The project is underpinned by the ICT strategy
adopted by Council in November 2003. It is sponsored by
the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, and is being driven with the
support of the ICT Services department (ICTS).
UCT’s dependence on ICT has grown significantly in the
last decade - these services have become indispensable
in the support of excellent and internationally competitive
research, teaching and learning. They are critical to
administrative processes, internal communication and day-
to-day functioning as well.
UCT was an early adopter of technology but has not
always kept up to date with developments. Given our
reliance on it, we must ensure that ICT infrastructure is
geared to meet current and future needs. We also need
to recognise that complex problems require consolidated
solutions. Over the years, ICT has developed unevenly
in different faculties and units, reflecting resources and
priorities in these units. As a result, infrastructure has
become fragmented and is difficult to support.
The supaTsela project aims to emphasise a shared
approach to ICT on campus, to further the interests of the
campus community. A ‘socially responsible’ approach to
computing by each user and each unit in the university will
mean long-term benefits for all.
The project has a life span of three years. While much
of the work will be taking place behind the scenes, users of
ICT in the UCT community will certainly be affected in some
areas, and will also see positive changes over time. This
publication sets out high-level information about what staff
and students can expect; it will be followed up by regular
communication in weeks and months to come.
Prof Martin Hall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
The Project Name
What is the meaning of ‘supaTsela’? The project name has been chosen to fit the theme
of vision and renewal. It is adapted from two words meaning ‘light of the road ahead’ and
refers to traditional ways of life for the Sotho and Tswana people.
Having spent its first month of life in a darkened room, a newborn baby is taken outdoors at
the first sighting of the moon. While the mother dances, pointing to the skies, the grandmother chants
an invitation to the child to see the beauty of light and to allow the moon to guide the road ahead.
The project logo alludes to these traditions and the project aspirations.
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You can address any queries or comments about the supaTsela project to feedback@icts.uct.ac.za
Message from the DVC with
Portfolio Responsibility for ICT
SupaTsela Project
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The formal launch of the supaTsela project takes place on 23 August 2004. After this, information-sharing
sessions will be held at different locations and on different dates around campus. These will be adver-
tised in due course, so that interested UCT members can learn more about supaTsela.1
Project Objectives
The supaTsela project aims to:
F Implement UCT’s ICT strategy and ensure that ICT infrastructural decisions are strategically driven.
F Put in place an ICT infrastructure that is sufficiently reliable, flexible and cost-effective to meet current demands.
F Provide the platform and capacity for future growth.
F Implement processes which will allow new technologies to be selected in a timeframe that maximises the benefit to
the university.
F Embed an ICT infrastructure that supports the endeavours of UCT’s research community, facilitates innovative ap-
proaches to teaching and learning, and meets the communications, administrative and support service requirements
of the university.
F Support consistent service-level improvements in ICT across campus.
The Project Implementation Committee (PIC), a Vice-
Chancellor’s committee, has been established to steer
the project. PIC includes Senate and Council membership
and is chaired by Professor Martin Hall, Deputy Vice-
Chancellor with portfolio responsibility for ICT. The steering
committee approves project plans and budgets within the
overall Council-approved allocation. It receives project
reports and monitors progress towards the achievement of
goals.
Mr Prags Naicker, Executive Director of ICT and the
author of the UCT ICT Strategy, is responsible for ensuring
that technology and service choices made during the
implementation are in line with the vision of the strategy.
Associate Professor Andrew Duncan is supaTsela’s
project manager. He is supported by the Project
Management Group (PMG), which meets weekly. The PMG
is chaired by Prags Naicker.
The project focus areas have been organised into specific
project work streams (see table on pages 2 and 3). The
work streams are being implemented during 2004-2006 and
are led by members of the ICTS department:
F Bandwidth Management: Leon Alexander
F Communications: Steffne Hughes
F Core Services: Kira Chernotsky
F Desktop Services: Willie du Plooy
F Electronic Directories Services: Allan Brinckmann
F Networked Infrastructure Renewal: Pippa Moll
F Improved Telephony Services: Brian King
F Workflow: Allan Brinckmann
F Web Services and Portal Technologies: Andre le Roux
Each stream is supported by additional members of ICTS,
and the department will be closely involved in the project
throughout. Resource planning has however taken careful
account of the need to maintain day-to-day operational
standards at the same time as service improvements are
being sought through the project.
Other resources include external consultants and
suppliers, as well as expertise and advice from UCT staff in
the various faculties.
The supaTsela team has identified benefits that can be
expected to flow from each work stream (see table on pages
2 and 3). A key aspect of project implementation will be to
track the achievement of these benefits, using appropriate
indicators and with feedback to and from the campus
community.
Project Governance and Management
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