COMMITTEE HANDBOOK
APPENDIX H
MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
ICT STRATEGY GROUP
ACTIONS ARISING FROM LAST MEETING AND ACTIONS OUTSTANDING
as at 31/03/11
Would those indicated in the Action column please notify Kate Brown on ext 5985 or email k.brown@mmu.ac.uk when the
action has been completed.
Subject
In attendance
22 March 2011
Key Issues
Decision
M Heaney (Chair), G Arnold, K Bonnett, D Crow,
Noted.
P Dunleavy, G Hemus, A Jones, P Range and K
Brown (Secretary).
Apologies
Apologies were received from L Grant.
Noted.
Actions arising
from the last
meeting
Digital Literacy
Digital literacy had been identified as one of the
University’s staff development priorities for 2011/12.
Noted.
E-Learning Support Officers
Interviews had been held and the officers would soon
be in place.
Media Rich Content for Moodle
Tenders had been received and were being
considered for cost and value for money. There
would be further discussion of suggestions for a
common design of, and future planning for, all the
University’s web content, including Moodle, the
Portal, online prospectus and web content
management systems.
Document1
Action
Progress/Status
Subject
Strategic ICT
Review
22 March 2011
Key Issues
Decision
Members had completed the Strategic ICT Review
Maturity Questionnaire and there had been a variety
of responses. Members had experienced some
difficulty with the terminology used within the
questionnaire and at the phrasing of the questions
which may have affected the answers received.
However the overall score showed that MMU was in
the operational category.
Discussion focused on how MMU could progress to
become more strategic and transformational in a
balanced way set against risks and other objectives.
The group discussed how the results should be
interpreted and what the next step would be for the
Strategic ICT Review. The issues needed to be
considered alongside the budget setting and
strategic planning processes. Guidance from the
Vice-Chancellor and the Executive was requested.
Outlook
Exchange
Project
To discuss the
next step of the
process with the
Vice-Chancellor
and then with the
Executive.
M Heaney/ P
Range
To investigate and
discuss the
possibility of a
University
Calendar within
Outlook.
Noted.
P Range/ D Crow
Progress/Status
The group received the project closure report for the
Outlook/Exchange Migration Project and agreed that
it was useful to receive such a report. The team was
congratulated on the successful implementation.
There was discussion about further use of the
calendar facility including the possible development
of the University Calendar within Outlook. It was
suggested that the Internal Communications Group
discuss the issue further.
ICT Services
Portfolio
Action
The group received a draft version of the ICT
Services Portfolio which outlined the key service
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Subject
22 March 2011
Key Issues
Decision
areas provided by ICTS. Any comments were to be
directed to Mo Din.
IT Software
Licensing
Audit
The group received a copy of the Uniac audit of
software licensing containing responses from ICTS
Managers to issues raised. It was suggested that a
progress report be brought to the group in May 2011.
Report from
the LIRE SubGroup
A Jones updated the group on the latest meeting of
the LIRE Sub-Group. The Sub-Group was pleased
to note the appointment of the E-Learning Support
Officers to assist with the training process. There
was some excitement about the implementation of
Moodle and the need to ensure this led to a greater
use than had been the case with WebCT.
The Sub-Group had received a useful presentation
from Dee Vyas on the standard platforms that would
be available in all teaching rooms. The hard work of
ICTS in implementing the strategy was noted. It was
suggested that a presentation be given to ICTSG at
an appropriate implementation point.
Date of Next
Meeting
Action
To submit a
progress report on
actions to the
ICTSG meeting in
May 2011.
P Range/M Din/ K
Brown (agenda)
Presentation on
the ICT Standard
platforms to be
given to ICTSG.
P Range/ K Brown
(agenda)
Progress/Status
The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday 24
May 2011 at 2pm.
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NOTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Subject
Learning
Technologies
Review Update
11 January 2011
Key Issues
Decision
Action
An update was provided on the Learning
An update to be
M Stubbs
Technologies Review. Moodle was operational,
provided at the
areas had been created for students starting in
May 2011 meeting.
January 2011 and a number of staff had been
trained.
Progress/Status
It was anticipated that the automatic creation of
areas within Moodle would relieve some of the
administrative pressures related to WebCT. Access
to Moodle for administrative staff was being
discussed. It was suggested that it would be useful
for a student’s personal tutor to be able to see their
units within the VLE. Access rights would be granted
by the unit coordinators and it was suggested that
the LIRE SG discuss this issue.
LIRE SG to be
asked to discuss
the access to units
for staff.
A Jones
G Arnold to discuss
requirements with
Karen Moore and
inform A Jones.
Reports from
the SubGroups
Learning, Innovation, Research and Enterprise SubGroup
A Jones reported that the group had suggested
meeting more regularly given the speed of
developments and would look to meet monthly. The
overriding concern of the group was to ensure that
staff received the appropriate training to ensure
effective use of the new technologies.
Josie Moores to be A Jones
asked to attend
LIRE SG to begin
discussions on
training needs and
planning the
development
process.
Kate Rowland was
on the membership.
A Jones to check
that it was
appropriate for her
to attend in place of
J Moores.
Subject
Key Issues
28 September 2010
Decision
Action
Progress/Status
Page 4 of 5
Subject
Actions arising
from the last
meeting
Staff
Development
and Support:
Digital Literacy
and Moodle
VLE
Implementation
28 September 2010
Key Issues
Decision
CIS Sub-Group Terms of Reference
CIS SG to develop
Formal terms of reference had not previously been
formal terms of
written for the Sub-Groups. AJ, as Chair of the LIRE reference.
Sub-Group, had written terms of reference for that
group and it was suggested that the CIS Sub-Group
also develop terms of reference.
There was a general issue of staff digital literacy as
some staff had been reluctant to use WebCT and
other technologies such as Smartboards. There was
an expectation from students that the technologies
would be used. Lack of digital literacy also had an
impact on administrative staff. The rollout of the
general training could be assisted by HR and
implemented through PDRs. There would be
elements of this training that should be mandatory for
all staff.
General staff
digital literacy to
be steered by HR
through the PDR
process and
reported into the
ICT Strategy
Group
Action
G Arnold
Progress/Status
In progress. G
Arnold/ P Range/ M
Heaney to discuss
further.
G Hemus/J
Moores
Report on training
needs in November
2011.
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