Return to the core for uni tech
University CIOs are returning to the core objectives of supporting and enabling research, learning and education along with a move to better use analytics.
The annual Council of Australian Directors of Information Technology (CAUDIT) Top 10 list of university priorities is an indicator of where their combined $1.6 billion IT spending is likely to head.
In 2010 and 2011 the list was headed by mobility, and in 2012 included BYOD and cloud computing. "This year we're seeing the support of research and support of teaching and learning as the top items in 2013," said CAUDIT chief executive Richard Northam. "This reflects a shift by the IT community towards a focus on the core mission of the institution, particularly as commoditised offerings become more mature.
"Mobility and BYOD don't appear as separate issues in 2013 but feature as strong undercurrents in many of the other issues for 2013."
In the past couple of years there have been several advances in the availability of IT infrastructure for Australia's researchers with shared initiatives like the cloud computing service NeCTAR and the Research Data Storage Infrastructure (RDSI). This has led to a need to provide stronger support to manage the environment and hence the revised priorities in 2013.
IT staffing, funding, business continuity and cloud computing remain key items of interest.
The full CAUDIT Top 10 for 2013 also includes positioning IT as a catalyst; leveraging cloud services; managing security and privacy effectively in a hybrid environment of multiple sourcing models; preparing IT staff for a very different (near) future.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
CAUDIT's Top 10 for 2013 shows a return to core missions: supporting research and teaching/learning, better use of analytics, positioning IT as a catalyst, leveraging cloud services, managing security and privacy in hybrid sourcing models, preparing IT staff for a changed future, and continuing focus on IT staffing, funding and business continuity.
CAUDIT's priorities indicate that much of the $1.6 billion in university IT spending will move toward systems that support research and teaching, analytics and data management, cloud services and shared research platforms, as well as investment in IT staffing, security, privacy and business continuity.
Mobility and BYOD are no longer listed as separate top issues in 2013 but remain important undercurrents across other priorities — for example, in cloud use, campus services and support for mobile researchers and students.
Shared initiatives such as the NeCTAR cloud and the Research Data Storage Infrastructure (RDSI) have increased available research IT infrastructure, which in turn created a need for stronger operational support and influenced universities to revise priorities toward managing these environments effectively.
Leveraging cloud services is prioritised because cloud and commoditised offerings are maturing; universities want to use cloud capabilities to support research and teaching, scale resources, and potentially reduce costs — while also addressing hybrid sourcing and security implications.
Universities are prioritising effective management of security and privacy across multiple sourcing models — meaning they must secure data and systems that live on-campus, in the cloud or across shared research platforms, and ensure compliant handling of research and student information.
IT staffing and funding remain key concerns: universities are investing in preparing IT staff for a 'very different (near) future', which includes new skills for cloud management, analytics and support for research and teaching, alongside ongoing budget and resourcing planning.
Positioning IT as a catalyst means using technology strategically to enable the university's core mission — improving research outcomes, teaching quality and operational efficiency. For everyday investors, this signals where university demand and IT spending may grow: analytics, cloud services, security solutions and staff-led digital transformation projects.
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