Middlesex University
Financial Statements 2016/17
Information Technology
Making learning easier than ever
The Middlesex University mobile phone app was launched this year. It can be used to access timetables, search the library catalogue and reserve or renew books, and to find an available computer on any campus. There is also an option to browse papers in the Research Repository. The app – a joint project between several University departments – was a huge success and enables students to take even more control of their studies.
All student machines were upgraded to the Windows 10 environment. As well as enhancing the security of the machines, this helps to improve students’ employability, as they will be proficient in the latest technology. This will be rolled out across all staff computers over the next year. Additionally, in June the entire University migrated to a new document management system, which aligns with record retention policies and best practice.
Work on Middlesex University’s new Mauritius campus is now complete. The Computing and Communications Systems Service (CCSS) played a huge role in the specification of the network and phone solutions, and travelled to Mauritius to help select new partners and oversee implementation of the infrastructure. The campus opened in October 2017.
Improving security and access to software The team has already started preparing for the General Data Protection Regulation, a new piece of legislation intended to strengthen personal data protection for everybody in the EU. It’s a huge shake-up in the data protection landscape and will be implemented in May 2018, so policies and supplier arrangements will be reviewed to ensure the University complies.
There will also be a holistic review of student systems in order to forge ahead with some major upgrades, bringing them in line with newer technology.
Much of the coming year will be focused on improving cyber security and developing staff awareness around the challenges the University faces. The sector as a whole has been targeted by cyber attacks in recent years, so a number of new initiatives will be put in place to safeguard against this.
A big change coming in 2018 is the introduction of new technology that lets students use specialist software, such as SPSS, Minitab and Adobe, on their own personal computers. Currently these packages are licensed only for use on the University computers, so students can’t access them on their own machines, but Middlesex will be piloting a process called software virtualisation which will make those specialist titles available to students on their personal computers. This ensures students are familiar with industry-standard programmes, giving them marketable skills and experience to take into the workplace.
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