Eastern Institute of Technology(MIS100 2009)

By CIO staff | Friday, July 24 2009

2008 ranking: Unlisted

Senior IS executive: Paul Thompson, manager, information technology services
Reports to: Director of corporate services
Size of IS shop: 12

PCs: 1286
Mobile PCs: 100
Terminals: 60
Hand-held devices: 10
Total screens: 1456

Industry: Educational services
PC environment: Windows XP, Vista; Cyclone; Lenovo
Server environment: Windows 2003, 2008; IBM
DBMS: SQL
Address: 501 Gloucester Street, Taradale, Napier
Website: www.eit.ac.nz
Key IS projects this year: Sharepoint; terminal server; office communication server; call centre upgrade.

Napier-based Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT Hawkes Bay) focuses on combining a strong theoretical base with practical skills, so that graduates are ready to “hit the ground running”. This focus is supported by IT Services through the delivery of high quality, business ready infrastructure.

Paul Thompson, manager information technology services, says, “IT Services will be looking towards connectivity issues to ensure that technology continues to be readily available to staff and students — particularly access to KAREN. This will allow us to collaborate more effectively with other institutions at the technology level.”

Online services are also critical to the success of EIT, he says, and the institute is keen to ensure everyone in the community has the capacity to successfully study regardless of their physical location.
“The IT team continues to be actively involved in projects that deliver extra capability to users. Services that enhance teaching and learning continue to receive particular attention along with infrastructure upgrades.”
Thompson oversees a tight-knit team of 12 IT staff on current ICT projects, such as implementation of Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Terminal Server. EIT will also invest in business intelligence system upgrades and technologies in 2009. This continues BI projects initiated in 2008.

New on the EIT IT agenda is unified communications systems and infrastructure. EIT will also continue to invest in wireless technologies, rolling out additional wireless services and business continuity and disaster recovery systems. All ICT functions are conducted in-house, says Thompson.