Transcript The Challenge of Open Source Solutions in African Universities

Collaborative Framework for the
Implementation of Integrated ICT
University Systems
The Strathmore University Experience
The Elimu Project
Dr Joseph Sevilla
Strathmore University
Nairobi, Kenya.
[email protected]
Workshop at Kigali Institute
of Science and Technology
Kigali 29th November 2007
Summary
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ICT University Management Systems
Implementation Models
Strathmore Experience
Elimu Project
ICT University Management Systems
• Management of core functions of Universities:
– Academic:
• Integrated Library System (ILS)
• Learning Management System (LMS)
• Quality Management – Academic Processes
– Administrative:
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Academic Management (AMS)
Financial Management (FMS)
Human Resource Management (HRM)
Quality Management – Administrative Processes
Hostels Management
Document and Records Management
Research Management
Strategic Priority at SU
• Academic:
– Integrated Library System (ILS)
– Learning Management System (LMS)
• Administrative:
– Academic Management (AMS)
– Financial Management (FMS)
– Human Resource Management (HRM)
Academic Management (AMS)
• Key operational system to manage student records:
– Admissions, registration, enrolment.
– Course planning, resource allocation (lecturers, classrooms,
timetabling), tutoring/mentoring.
– Class management: lists, attendance.
– Academic performance, examinations, academic records,
certification, transcripts.
– Students financial record: invoicing of fees, receipting of
payments, account balances, debtors.
• Fully web–based and platform independent.
• Proper Access Control: Administrators, lecturers, students –
each user accesses what is relevant.
• Integration with other systems (e.g. FMS, ILS, LMS).
Financial Systems AMS / ERP´s
• Managing University finances:
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Chart of Accounts, General ledger.
Purchase ledger, Suppliers.
Inventory management.
Budgeting, Asset management.
Financial reporting, eDocs, etc.
• Fully web–based and platform
independent.
• Integration with other systems (AMS, LMS,
ILS, Payroll and HRM).
Integrated Library Systems (ILS)
• Library Management (ILS)
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Cataloguing & Classification.
OPAC, Circulation.
Serials management module: Journals and Periodicals.
Acquisitions.
Manage online and off line resources with the same tool.
E-mail and/or txt patron's overdues and other notices.
Print your own barcodes.
Conforming to international Library standards: z39.50,
MARC21 and UNIMARC.
• Web-based Interfaces and platform-independent solution.
• Integration with other external systems: able to query
existing databases.
• Integration with other internal systems (AMS, FMS).
Learning Management System
(LMS)
• Facilitate the effective delivery of knowledge:
– Promote learner motivation and involvement.
– Improve content delivery.
– Facilitate student/lecturer and student/student
interaction.
– Making full use of the wide range of pedagogic
opportunities provided by ICT.
• Able to complement traditional teaching and
deliver distance education.
• Asynchronous learning:
– Every learner accesses the information at its own time
and from a convenient location.
Learning Management System
(LMS)
• Static Content:
– Course Syllabi/Outline, Course notes,
Examples, Assignments.
– Manuals, books on line.
– Glossaries.
– Additional teaching materials including
multimedia.
– Exam guidelines, past papers, etc.
– Internet links to relevant resources.
Learning Management System
(LMS)
• Dynamic Content:
– Virtual one to one lecturer supervision.
– Journal, notice-boards/announcements.
– Student to student interaction:
• Chat, forums and discussion groups.
• Group projects.
– Tools to monitor progress:
• Assignments, self-assessment quizzes.
• On-line examinations, automatic grading.
• Surveys.
– Workshops.
– Wikis, Blogs.
Where to Acquire these Systems?
• Local Vendors
– Understand standard commercial applications.
– Often inexperienced on academic
requirements.
– Unclear long term sustainability and support.
• International Vendors
– Proven systems and long track record.
– Very expensive if outside the continent.
– May require expensive travelling.
• Danger: Vendor lock-in.
Can we develop these Systems?
• Resources required:
– Technical Skills / Human Resources.
– Functional Skills.
– Managerial Skills (Development/
Implementation)
– Expensive training.
• Many man-hours required to develop a
mature application.
• A case for collaborative development.
Should we re-invent the wheel?
• What if all these systems were already
freely available?
• A case for Free and Open Source
Software (FOSS).
Free and Open Source Software
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Mature Applications available.
Developed and maintained by experts world-wide.
Source Code is freely available.
Easily customisable if technical skills are
available.
• Support is available from other users and
developers.
• No licence fees. Free Updates. No vendor lock-in.
• Fosters the development of local skills and
independence from foreign companies.
Is FOSS really free?
• Free Software does not mean free
implementation.
• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
– Software is a small part of the cost.
– Expertise required to customise, install, train,
support, maintain and upgrade the application.
• Project Management and Change
Management are of vital importance to a
successful implementation.
Implementation at SU
• Contracted implementation to Strathmore
Research and Consultancy Centre
(SRCC).
• Constituted management implementation
teams representing all user departments.
– Project Manager.
– Steering Committee: Senior Management.
– Functional Committee: Target Users.
• Implemented FOSS solutions wherever
available.
Academic Management (AMS)
• Obtained from University of Navarre
(Spain).
– Fully Web – based.
– Supported by Tecnicia (Spain).
• Core Team of 3 senior programmers
trained in Spain.
• Team of 10 programmers thoroughly
customised the system to meet our
specific needs.
Financial Systems AMS / ERP´s
• Joined Kuali Project (www.kuali.org)
– Project was started in late 2002 by Indiana University,
the University of Hawaii, NACUBO and the rSmart
Group to develop the Kuali Finantial System (KFS).
– By 2005, they were joined by four additional partners as
core investors in the project: Cornell University (NY),
San Joaquin Delta College (CA), Michigan State
University, and the University of Arizona.
– Designed by universities for universities.
• Community Source (Open Source) and webbased.
• Implementation partner: rSmart Group.
Integrated Library Systems (ILS)
• Koha (www.koha.org)
– A full featured modern integrated library
system (ILS)
– Impressive set of features.
– Steered by a growing community of libraries
world-wide.
– Fully customised to our needs.
– Web-based and Open Source.
• Our implementation is available at:
www.lib.strathmore.edu
Learning Management System
(LMS)
• eLearning Platform: Moodle
(www.moodle.org)
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Over 330,000 registered users.
Over 35,600 registered sites.
Over 70 languages.
Over 196 countries.
Over 270 modules/plug-ins available.
• Web-based and Open Source.
• Our implementation is available at:
www.elearning.strathmore.edu
Strathmore University has
• Made steady progress in the successful
implementation of University-wide integrated
management systems.
• Developed relevant expertise.
• Forged strategic partnerships with leading
international companies.
• Made a substantial financial commitment.
• Capable of replicating similar solutions in other
Universities of the region, providing products,
implementation services, training and support.
Elimu Project
• Collaborative Project between Universities.
• Objectives:
– Implementation of proven FOSS applications.
– Develop local expertise at institutional level.
– Foster a regional community of users.
• Procedure:
– General MoU of collaboration/technical
assistance between SU and collaborating
institutions.
• Attract donor support.