Annual Report 2008 - Central Queensland University

Resource &
Workplace
Efficiency
strategic objectives through the effective utilisation of ICT. The Plan compels the
consolidation of ICT infrastructure and applications to improve ICT manageability,
reduce complexity, to steer ICT procurement decisions and aggregate purchasing.
Six Objectives have been established in the areas of: ICT Governance; ICT
Capabilities and Skills; One CQUniversity – Diverse Delivery; Information
systems and Management; ICT Service Delivery and Client Partnering; and ICT
Infrastructure and Telecommunication.
In late 2008, a new ICT governance committee structure was approved and
implemented. The committee structure and terms of reference provide for more
effective oversight of major ICT investments and projects, and better alignment of
ICT related investments and projects with the core business and strategic goals of
the University.
Information Systems
Student System upgrade: deployment of a significantly upgraded version of the
University’s PeopleSoft Student System from version 7.6 to version 8.9. The
upgraded system (known as CQUCentral) was successfully deployed in April 2008,
delivering a range of benefits including:
• Maintenance of critical vendor support
• Reduction of system customisations to minimise future maintenance cost
• Provision of a web based interface for staff
• Improved levels of reliability and performance
• Enhanced functionality in areas such as monitoring students’ academic progress
• Self service online payment of student tuition and fees directly via CQUCentral
The University
continues to
make significant
investment in
information and
communications
technology to
underpin and
strengthen the
achievement of
the University’s
strategic
objectives.
A major contributor to the success of the implementation of CQUCentral was the
high level of staff involvement throughout the project to ensure user ownership.
Research Management and Administration System
Implementation
This project will provide CQUniversity with a single, central system for the efficient
tracking and management of research activities and critical government reporting
requirements. A significant effort was invested in 2008. Modules to support the
management and administration of publications, scholarships, ethics, contracts and
grants, will be progressively implemented in 2009.
Human Resource Information System Project (HRIS)
In 2007 CQUniversity was successful in securing a grant of more than $1M over
three years from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace
Relations under the Workplace Productivity Program to enhance systems and
processes supporting the University’s human resources functions.
Benefits delivered to date include:
• Improved alignment with the University’s organisational structure and integration
with other corporate systems
• Management of staff budgets and commitments via the HRIS
• Comprehensive suite of operational and strategic reports
• Improvements to the quality and breadth of staff data captured within the HRIS
• Electronic management of staff performance appraisal processes
• Online management of staff leave - reducing 95% of paper based leave forms
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Web Rejuvenation Project
Objectives for the Web Rejuvenation Project for 2008 were to apply consistent
branding across the entire CQUniversity site, to reduce the number of public pages
to a more manageable level, and to begin the process of decommissioning old,
out-of-date or incorrect web pages. In 2008 a reduction in the number of public
CQUniversity web pages from 227,000 to 164,000 occurred and achieved 98.4%
compliance with the new brand. The project produced a new visual design consistent
with the new marketing style, including replacement of the home page and key