VISION MISSION

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY CENTREMr. T.I. ThwalaDirector of Information andCommunications Technology CentreVISIONEmpower the University community to use informationand communications technology in an effective,effi cient and innovative manner in order to meet theUniversity’s objectives.MISSIONTo deliver appropriate information and communicationstechnology services and resources that support theUniversity’s mission of learning, teaching, research,administration and outreach; and also promotethe effective and optimal use of these services andresources.OBJECTIVESThe objectives of the Information and CommunicationTechnology Centre are to:Provide, manage and maintain the University datanetwork infrastructure;Manage and maintain Internet connectivity andassociated services;Provide central computing facilities for studentsand staff;Provide advice on implementation of newUniversity information technology systems;Develop and maintain the University’sadministrative information systems;Establish and implement computing andinformation technology policies, procedures andstandards; andProvide training programmes for staff on use theof the University’s computing facilities.EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe ICT Centre was challenged by operational budgetreductions the past year, but was still able to improveICT services and infrastructure. A new email systemhas replaced the old system which was based onMercury POP3/SMTP gateway and Pegasus mail as thepredominant email client. The major problem with theMercury/Pegasus mail system was that it restrictedaccess to email mainly to the University networkand did not support access via a Web browser fromany machine that has access to the Internet. In orderto implement the new email system, Open-sourcesoftware was used with three similarly spec’d HPProLiant DL380 servers acquired for each campus. Thesystem makes use of SMTP and IMAP as the email accessprotocols. Students access the email system throughWebmail, while staff members have the choice of using95REPORT OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR