CAMPUSES & CENTRES

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY CENTREMr. T.I. Thwala - DirectorVISIONEmpower the University community to use informationand communications technology in an effective, efficientand innovative manner in order to meet the University’sobjectives.MISSIONTo deliver appropriate information and communicationstechnology services and resources that support theUniversity’s mission of learning, teaching, research,administration and outreach; and also promote the effectiveand optimal use of these services and resources.OBJECTIVESThe objectives of ICTC are to:Provide, manage and maintain the University datanetwork infrastructure;Manage and maintain Internet connectivity andassociated services.;Provide central computing facilities for students andstaff;Provide advice on implementation of new Universityinformation technology systems.Develop and maintain the University’s administrativeinformation systems;Establish and implement computing and informationtechnology policies, procedures andStandards; andProvide training programmes for staff on use the of theUniversity’s computing facilities.EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe year under review saw the Internet bandwidth of theUniversity being substantially increased. Before the increase thebandwidth of the University was 1.5 Mbps, and was increasedto 10 Mbps. The bandwidth between the campuses of theUniversity was also increased to 2 Mbps, which is the maximumpossible with the current infrastructure. The Swaziland Post andTelecommunications Corporations is currently putting in placethe infrastructure that will allow the bandwidth to grow to anyamount that the University will require.The University website was upgraded and a contentmanagement system was put in place to manage contentupdating. The introduction of the content managementsystem will enable the decentralization of content updating,thus allowing for content of the website to be up-to-date.Departments and units will be trained on updating theircontent and then given the authority to update contentrelevant to their sections.One of the strategic objectives of the ICT Centre is toincrease utilisation of ICT in teaching and learning. Duringthe 2011/2012 academic year, a pilot project in the use of aLearning Management System in order to supplement theteaching and learning experience was undertaken. Opensource software was identified as the ideal platform forthe learning management system, with Moodle being thesoftware used. About 130 courses have been defined andare currently being used in the pilot setup.ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONNew staff memberMr. Johnson S. Dlamini joined thedepartment during the 2011/2012financial year as a Programmer.Mr. J.S. Dlamini has a Bachelor ofScience degree from the Universityof Swaziland.Mr. J.S. DlaminiProgrammer71REPORT OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR