UQ student software developments ahead of the field
The University of Queensland's web-related student system SI-net and related academic activities are about 18 months-two years ahead of comparable developments in many United States universities, according to a senior UQ administrator.
Academic Registrar Neville Lamb said while most US universities used the Web extensively to deliver information, few universities had developed a similar integrated package of academic transaction systems for students as UQ.
Mr Lamb attended a New Orleans conference in September for 15,000 users of the PeopleSoft software system.
"Many delegates were surprised to know that much of UQ's Student system went live on the Web in December 97 and we have a comprehensive data warehouse as a repository of information for reporting, interrogation and analytical purposes," he said.
"Our systems are innovative and well advanced.
"The Vice-President Strategy and Development of Peoplesoft Student Administration Liz Dietz has a special role in relation to higher education. She told delegates that developments in Australasia are significant and will feed into the company's core products in other countries.
"During a visit to Duke University, I was told that UQ was in a fortunate position to be implementing Peoplesoft at the same time it was introducing a new academic system of unitisation."
In March 1999 the University chose the PeopleSoft Student Administration System (SAS) to replace its existing student system. Other Australian Universities, including the University of New South Wales, the Australian National University and Central and Southern Queensland Universities, have also chosen the PeopleSoft product which is being implemented by over 250 universities around the world.
The Student 2000 project was established in May last year to implement the new Student System at UQ, the first phase of which comes on line from June next year.
Mr Lamb said the rapid uptake of the World Wide Web and e-business technology advances enabling quick movement of data globally were creating rapid changes in higher education, including services to students.
"We now have the concept of e-communities or virtual communities and we must look at new ways of disseminating information to them and promoting relationships," he said. "The Peoplesoft software system chosen by UQ will enable us to keep abreast of these changes and use the latest technologies to construct communities of students, staff, potential suppliers and clients."
Further information: Neville Lamb telephone 07 3365 2224.
