Status

Achievements to Date

The first phase of Student Initiatives commenced in January 2008 and concluded in May 2008. Achievements included:

• Future operating model review and high level design
• High level implementation roadmap.
• Functional review including high level as-is mapping of current processes and profiled improvement opportunities

The second phase of work, Implementation Planning for the Service Delivery Model and Program Management Office, was undertaken between July and October 2008. Achievements included:

• Detailed scoping and planning for FSAP Service Delivery Model and Program Management activities
• Change management and communications framework design
• Workforce strategy and framework design
• Initiation of short term, tactical improvement projects
• Establishment of the Program Management Office (PMO) and associated processes and templates.

Student Initiatives - Achievements to Date

Forms and Satellites - May to July 2009

Sydney Student will adapt and develop best practice satellite administrative systems currently operating across the University for delivery to faculties and schools who wish to participate in the take-up of improved, efficient, common-use applications in the period 2009-2012 while the preferred vendor’s new central system is implemented.

The next steps for this stream of work include:

• Planning and execution of selected initiatives to deliver short-term benefits to the University including:
  
  • 2009 In-person enrolments – support the Student Centre and Faculties in delivering improved in-person enrolments
  • Student First – develop improvements in student service
  • Community of Practice – invest in staff engagement and professional development across the ‘whole of University’ student administration community
  • Forms Management – review requirements and implement a suitable solution to better manage student administration forms
  • Satellite Systems – identify, document and improve ‘off-FlexSIS’ student data management across the University.
• Recruitment of University secondees with student administration functional expertise
• Call for submissions on student administration reform to all staff.

The detailed design of the service delivery model for student administration will start in March 2009 following:

• Peak period for student administration staff over November – March
• Award of contract to successful systems vendor
• Recruitment of program resources and reference structures.

Workstream B: Future student administration systems and technology

Achievements to date

Workstream B commenced in January 2008. The strategy for sourcing and procuring a new student management lifecycle solution and systems integration partner was endorsed by the Sydney Student Steering Committee on 26 April 2008.

The sourcing strategy recommended three sets of capabilities be procured from a single vendor – the software and technology solutions for student lifecycle management, implementation and integration services to configure and deploy the new solution and the provision of ongoing services to support and maintain the implemented solution.

High level business requirements were developed through the Workstream A consultation process to inform the Request for Tender process and requirements.

On 23 June 2008, the University invited the five short-listed vendors to participate in a selective Request For Tender (RFT) process. To view RFT documentation click here. The University refined this short-list and invited three vendors to participate in scenario demonstrations to test the capability of their technology solution against the University’s requirements.

Next Steps

• Due Diligence to clarify outcomes and approach, including detailed contract negotiations with each short-listed vendor
• Evaluate the outcome of due diligence activity to calculate final tender evaluation scores and make a final recommendation to program governing bodies
• Upon approval from governing bodies, award the contract to the successful vendor and communicate the outcome to the University
• On-board student lifecycle management solution vendor and undertake detailed system design and implementation planning
• Recruit suitably skilled University staff to the program to work in the systems and technology workstream.