Victoria University of Wellington(MIS100 2009)

By CIO staff | Friday, July 24 2009

2008 ranking: 36

Senior IS executive: Stuart Haselden, director information technology services
Reports to: Deputy vice chancellor (Research)
Size of IS shop: 150

PCs: 4500
Mobile PCs: 500
Terminals: 208
Hand-held devices: 120
Total screens: 5328

Industry: Educational services
PC environment: Dell, Windows XP, Red Hat
Server environment: Dell; IBM; Windows 2003, 2008; Red Hat
DBMS: Oracle, SQL
Address: Kelburn Parade, Wellington
Website: www.vuw.ac.nz
Key IS projects this year: Storage management; identity management; research strategy.

Victoria University recently released its five-year strategic plan for 2009 to 2014. Director IT services, Stuart Haselden, says like all households, businesses and organisations, Victoria University is looking at the best way to manage its resources.

However, reflecting the key role of ICT in delivering business efficiency, customer service and business intelligence during a recession, it has not reduced ICT budgets, project funding or staffing levels for 2009.

Haselden says successful ICT operations and projects will be business critical, as the university looks to increase productivity and service offerings to staff and students this year and beyond. A number of projects already underway are aligned to the strategic plan and these will continue to expand over the coming months.

Victoria University recently increased internet bandwidth considerably for staff and students.

Automation of services for students was a key driver in 2008 and kiosks are now provided to allow students to electronically update their accounts for printing. Student mail, sky drive, calendar and messenger have been outsourced to Microsoft through Outlook Live.

In 2008 Victoria invested in VoIP systems for expansion, wireless infrastructure and business continuity strategies and systems. Microsoft Exchange for staff was upgraded from 2003 to 2007.

This year work will continue in the areas of unified communications, business continuity, research services, disaster recovery systems and server virtualisation. Haselden says the University is “proud to partner” with Dell, EMC, Vmware, FujiXerox, Redhat, Oracle and Microsoft, among others.