The University’s Strategic Plan 2011-2016 identifies several key areas for development which will be supported by this project.
A Great Student Experience – The feedback from students about their experience of accessing and using technology within the campus is often negative. Slow logins are a cause of frustration; people expect their University computer to be up and running as fast as their home computer. Similarly students expect an up-to-date IT experience featuring the latest versions. The centralised server-hosted desktop will provide a Windows 7 experience with Office 2010 and other core software which isn’t dependant on the capability or performance of the client computer. In many cases it will be possible to replace traditional “fat” PCs with fast-booting, energy-efficient thin client devices. The application virtualisation system will improve software delivery agility, making it much easier to move to the latest version and possible to offer multiple versions side-by-side.
Employable and Successful Graduates – By providing students with access to the latest industry standard software we will ensure that they have the IT experience that employers have come to expect.
An International University – A key driver for this project is to provide a technology platform that will support location independent working initiatives. Education establishments that are taking a lead in this area are embracing a wide range of location independent working practices, changing both the timing and location of work. The capability to provide access regardless of geography or working time is of increased importance when supporting overseas students.
Talented People – This project will provide a technology platform that will support home and flexible working initiatives. Whilst for many organisations the starting point has been to regard these initiatives primarily as an attractive employee benefit, those that have monitored their results have almost always seen efficiency and effectiveness outcomes including:
- Reduced staff turnover (retention of high calibre staff) with consequential reduction in recruitment and training costs
- Reduced sickness absence creating more productive time
- Productivity gains compared to “normal working patterns”
- Extended working hours
- Higher staff satisfaction leading to improved performance
Many of the above have or will lead to cashable gains as a result of freeing up resources for other uses. The less tangible benefits such as improved employee morale have a substantial, but generally unmeasured impact on productivity and performance. There is also ample evidence that people working in more flexible ways tend to be better motivated, more productive, have a better work-life balance and take less time off for sickness and other reasons.
An Interactive and Responsive Real and Virtual Estate – Location independent working enables a more flexible and efficient use of the physical estate, whilst expanding the estate of the University in the virtual domain. Cost reductions arise from improved use of accommodation such as desk sharing, whilst home-based working and independent working hours can generate substantial cost benefits. In a recent study, City University London has established that the average cost of providing a desk in the UK is £10,000 per annum. Another study by Chestertons undertaken in 2004 suggests that some 70% of all UK employers have at least one empty desk in each of their offices at any one time and, overall, the daily under-utilisation of desk space could be as high as 50%.