UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

IT Services

Events

2007 workshop

University of Glasgow

Combined Support Community Workshop

The Future of IT Support in Tertiary Education

Wednesday 15th August 2007

Western Infirmary Lecture Theatre (WILT)

Time Slot

Main Lecture Theatre

Foyer

9:00 - 9:25  

Registration and Coffee

9:25 - 9:30

Move to lecture theatre

 

  

Morning Sessions

(Continuity: Iain Logan)

  
9:30 - 9:45

Welcome and Introduction

Iain Logan

  
9:45 - 10:30

Session 1

"Supporting a Tertiary Education Sector:

Challenges & Solutions."

David Beards

Listen to David Beard's Presentation [Real Audio File Format Download]

Listen to David Beard's Presentation [Windows Media Player]

Linda McCormick (in place of Charles Sweeney)

Listen to Linda McCormick's Presentation [Real Audio File Format Download]

Listen to Linda McCormick's Presentation [Windows Media Player]

It may come as a surprise that Glasgow University hosts an IT Support Service for Colleges of Further and Higher Education in the West of Scotland. Charles Sweeney will provide a glimpse of this IT Support operation which is very different in certain key respects from what  we are used to in the university.

David Beards will place it (and us) in the greater context.

   
10:30 -11:15

Session 2

 "Implementing Vista"

Peter King

Listen to Peter King's Presentation [Real Audio File Format Download]

Listen to Peter King's Presentation [Windows Media Player]

Like many other institutions of tertiary education, Glasgow University has not yet taken the decision to move whole-scale onto Vista but it will do so sooner or later.  What are the  advantages, and what are the problems?  This is the opportunity to find out.

   
11:15 - 11:40  

Coffee

11:40 - 11:45

Return to lecture theatre

  
11:45 - 12:30

Session 3

"Moodle - Versions, Migrations and Implications:

what's what, what's coming and what's not!"

James Currall

Listen to James Currall's Presentation [Real Audio File Format Download]

Listen to James Currall's Presentation [Windows Media Player]

Moodle has now become established as the University VLE and since its adoption by the Open University has been developing rapidly.  James will discuss recent changes, the upgrade path and some of the consequences of things that are happening in the Moodlesphere for staff, students and support.

  
12:30 - 13:55   

Luncheon

13:55 - 14:00

Return to lecture theatre

   
     
 

Afternoon Sessions

(Continuity: Iain Logan)

   
14:00-14:45

Session 4

"A Glasgow Model for IT Help and Support in Tertiary Education?"

Iain Logan

Listen to Iain Logan's Presentation [Real Audio File Format Download]

Listen to Iain Logan's Presentation [Windows Media Player]

With a contribution from

Tom Muir

What ever happened to the Saxon* Model?  It died the death and there hasn't been a successor.  Or has there... ?

We now communicate and co-operate to a much greater degree than we did 4 years ago.  Could there be more to it than that?  Whisper it - might there even be a potential successor to Saxon already operating quietly out there on campus?

Iain Logan will reveal all!  And in the process set the scene for the following panel discussion.

*Saxon Model  - See below.

    
14:45 - 15:30

Session 5

Panel Discussion

"The Challenges facing IT Support in Tertiary Education"

Chair: Ann Gow

Listen to The Panel's Discussion [Real Audio File Format Download]

Listen to The Panels' Discussion [Windows Media Player]

Panel Members:

Linda McCormick (in place of Charles Sweeney)

David Beards

James Currall

Rolly Gilmour

With questions from the audience.

  
15:30 - 15:55  

Coffee

15:55 - 16:00

Return to lecture theatre

  
16:00 - 16:20

Summing Up

Sandy Macdonald

Listen to Summing Up [Real Audio File Format Download]

Listen to Summing Up [Windows Media Player]

  
16:20 - 16:30

Thank You and Close

Iain Logan

  

Please note: that all Main Lecture Theatre Sessions will be recorded (audio only). The reason for recording is to allow accurate transcription of discussions, and ultimately web streaming of the Sessions.

Dramatis Personae

David Beards: Senior Policy Officer, Scottish Funding Council (SFC).
Worked with the Scottish Funding Council since 1992. His responsibilities have included managing computer-assisted learning programmes and network development in Scotland, as well as policy work on quality enhancement and sustainable development.
James Currall:  Head of Learning & Technology Unit, Learning and Teaching
Service, Glasgow University.
Started life as an academic statistician, a practice which he still pursues from time to time.  After a sojourn in various roles in IT Services he recently moved to the University’s newly created Learning and Teaching Service with a mission to improve the uptake of technology in learning and teaching throughout the academic community.
Aileen Dickinson:  IT Specialist, IT Services, Glasgow University.
A behind-the-scenes expert who contributes to the IT Services Desktop Support operation.  She specialises in Standard Staff Desktop of which there are some 2000 instances throughout the university and mobile computing.  She also has a formidable reputation for being able to organise large scale moves of IT from one building to another and successfully have working desktops waiting for staff when they arrive at the new location.
Rolly Gilmour:  Director, Computing Service, IT Services, Glasgow University.
Came up through the departmental ranks and took over as Director of Computing Service in 2005.  His background is deep technology with an emphasis on networks and communications.  He is thought to own a tie.
Ann Gow:  Deputy Director, Hatii, Faculty of Arts, Glasgow University.
Hatii is an acronym for Humanities Advanced Technology & Information Initiative.  As Deputy Director Ann is responsible, amongst many other things, for the provision of local IT Support throughout the Arts Faculty.
Iain Logan: Deputy Director, Computing Service, IT Services, Glasgow University.
Spent 20 years doing IT support out in the faculties before joining Computing Service in 2004 as Deputy Director.  His remit includes improving the working relationship between central IT Services and the Faculty IT Support operations.
Sandy Macdonald:  Director, IT Services, Glasgow University.
Joined the university in December 2005 as overall Director of IT Services.  His background is IT in Banking and IT consultancy. He has a strong leaning towards business process development and project management.
Tom Muir: IT Manager, Faculty of Medicine, Glasgow University.
With some 4000 students the Faculty of Medicine is one of the larger faculties of Glasgow University.  As well as all the normal problems of a large faculty IT support operation it has in addition complex interactions with the NHS, including several departments physically based out in the city’s teaching hospitals.  Tom Muir is responsible for pulling together local IT Support for this whole operation.
Charles Sweeney:  Manager, Regional Support Centre, IT Services, Glasgow University.
The Regional Support Centre (RSC) is one of the less well know parts of Glasgow University’s IT Services in spite of having been in existence since 2000.  It is a JISC grant funded operation which provides IT advice and support to some 20 Further Education Colleges and 3 Higher Education Institutions in South West Scotland.  Charles has been manager since its inception.

* The Saxon Model

The so-called Saxon Model was a model for IT support at the University of Glasgow conceived by a working group chaired by Professor David Saxon, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, during the creation of the University’s 2003 IT Strategy update.
It proposed that a senior member of IT support staff from each faculty, most likely the local IT manager, should have 50% of their line management realigned through what is now IT Services.
This proposal did not meet with universal acclaim within the distributed IT Support Community, particularly with local IT Support Managers.  It did generate a certain amount of interest in the managements of some of the faculties until they realised that there was no new money up for grabs.  At that point enthusiasm waned rapidly and the idea died the death.  In spite of this the Saxon Model still resonates around the university’s  IT support community and causes occasional nightmares for our more paranoid colleagues.


Events

2007 workshop

University of Glasgow

Combined Support Community Workshop

The Future of IT Support in Tertiary Education

Wednesday 15th August 2007

Western Infirmary Lecture Theatre (WILT)

Time Slot

Main Lecture Theatre

Foyer

9:00 - 9:25  

Registration and Coffee

9:25 - 9:30

Move to lecture theatre

 

  

Morning Sessions

(Continuity: Iain Logan)

  
9:30 - 9:45

Welcome and Introduction

Iain Logan

  
9:45 - 10:30

Session 1

"Supporting a Tertiary Education Sector:

Challenges & Solutions."

David Beards

Listen to David Beard's Presentation [Real Audio File Format Download]

Listen to David Beard's Presentation [Windows Media Player]

Linda McCormick (in place of Charles Sweeney)

Listen to Linda McCormick's Presentation [Real Audio File Format Download]

Listen to Linda McCormick's Presentation [Windows Media Player]

It may come as a surprise that Glasgow University hosts an IT Support Service for Colleges of Further and Higher Education in the West of Scotland. Charles Sweeney will provide a glimpse of this IT Support operation which is very different in certain key respects from what  we are used to in the university.

David Beards will place it (and us) in the greater context.

   
10:30 -11:15

Session 2

 "Implementing Vista"

Peter King

Listen to Peter King's Presentation [Real Audio File Format Download]

Listen to Peter King's Presentation [Windows Media Player]

Like many other institutions of tertiary education, Glasgow University has not yet taken the decision to move whole-scale onto Vista but it will do so sooner or later.  What are the  advantages, and what are the problems?  This is the opportunity to find out.

   
11:15 - 11:40  

Coffee

11:40 - 11:45

Return to lecture theatre

  
11:45 - 12:30

Session 3

"Moodle - Versions, Migrations and Implications:

what's what, what's coming and what's not!"

James Currall

Listen to James Currall's Presentation [Real Audio File Format Download]

Listen to James Currall's Presentation [Windows Media Player]

Moodle has now become established as the University VLE and since its adoption by the Open University has been developing rapidly.  James will discuss recent changes, the upgrade path and some of the consequences of things that are happening in the Moodlesphere for staff, students and support.

  
12:30 - 13:55   

Luncheon

13:55 - 14:00

Return to lecture theatre

   
     
 

Afternoon Sessions

(Continuity: Iain Logan)

   
14:00-14:45

Session 4

"A Glasgow Model for IT Help and Support in Tertiary Education?"

Iain Logan

Listen to Iain Logan's Presentation [Real Audio File Format Download]

Listen to Iain Logan's Presentation [Windows Media Player]

With a contribution from

Tom Muir

What ever happened to the Saxon* Model?  It died the death and there hasn't been a successor.  Or has there... ?

We now communicate and co-operate to a much greater degree than we did 4 years ago.  Could there be more to it than that?  Whisper it - might there even be a potential successor to Saxon already operating quietly out there on campus?

Iain Logan will reveal all!  And in the process set the scene for the following panel discussion.

*Saxon Model  - See below.

    
14:45 - 15:30

Session 5

Panel Discussion

"The Challenges facing IT Support in Tertiary Education"

Chair: Ann Gow

Listen to The Panel's Discussion [Real Audio File Format Download]

Listen to The Panels' Discussion [Windows Media Player]

Panel Members:

Linda McCormick (in place of Charles Sweeney)

David Beards

James Currall

Rolly Gilmour

With questions from the audience.

  
15:30 - 15:55  

Coffee

15:55 - 16:00

Return to lecture theatre

  
16:00 - 16:20

Summing Up

Sandy Macdonald

Listen to Summing Up [Real Audio File Format Download]

Listen to Summing Up [Windows Media Player]

  
16:20 - 16:30

Thank You and Close

Iain Logan

  

Please note: that all Main Lecture Theatre Sessions will be recorded (audio only). The reason for recording is to allow accurate transcription of discussions, and ultimately web streaming of the Sessions.

Dramatis Personae

David Beards: Senior Policy Officer, Scottish Funding Council (SFC).
Worked with the Scottish Funding Council since 1992. His responsibilities have included managing computer-assisted learning programmes and network development in Scotland, as well as policy work on quality enhancement and sustainable development.
James Currall:  Head of Learning & Technology Unit, Learning and Teaching
Service, Glasgow University.
Started life as an academic statistician, a practice which he still pursues from time to time.  After a sojourn in various roles in IT Services he recently moved to the University’s newly created Learning and Teaching Service with a mission to improve the uptake of technology in learning and teaching throughout the academic community.
Aileen Dickinson:  IT Specialist, IT Services, Glasgow University.
A behind-the-scenes expert who contributes to the IT Services Desktop Support operation.  She specialises in Standard Staff Desktop of which there are some 2000 instances throughout the university and mobile computing.  She also has a formidable reputation for being able to organise large scale moves of IT from one building to another and successfully have working desktops waiting for staff when they arrive at the new location.
Rolly Gilmour:  Director, Computing Service, IT Services, Glasgow University.
Came up through the departmental ranks and took over as Director of Computing Service in 2005.  His background is deep technology with an emphasis on networks and communications.  He is thought to own a tie.
Ann Gow:  Deputy Director, Hatii, Faculty of Arts, Glasgow University.
Hatii is an acronym for Humanities Advanced Technology & Information Initiative.  As Deputy Director Ann is responsible, amongst many other things, for the provision of local IT Support throughout the Arts Faculty.
Iain Logan: Deputy Director, Computing Service, IT Services, Glasgow University.
Spent 20 years doing IT support out in the faculties before joining Computing Service in 2004 as Deputy Director.  His remit includes improving the working relationship between central IT Services and the Faculty IT Support operations.
Sandy Macdonald:  Director, IT Services, Glasgow University.
Joined the university in December 2005 as overall Director of IT Services.  His background is IT in Banking and IT consultancy. He has a strong leaning towards business process development and project management.
Tom Muir: IT Manager, Faculty of Medicine, Glasgow University.
With some 4000 students the Faculty of Medicine is one of the larger faculties of Glasgow University.  As well as all the normal problems of a large faculty IT support operation it has in addition complex interactions with the NHS, including several departments physically based out in the city’s teaching hospitals.  Tom Muir is responsible for pulling together local IT Support for this whole operation.
Charles Sweeney:  Manager, Regional Support Centre, IT Services, Glasgow University.
The Regional Support Centre (RSC) is one of the less well know parts of Glasgow University’s IT Services in spite of having been in existence since 2000.  It is a JISC grant funded operation which provides IT advice and support to some 20 Further Education Colleges and 3 Higher Education Institutions in South West Scotland.  Charles has been manager since its inception.

* The Saxon Model

The so-called Saxon Model was a model for IT support at the University of Glasgow conceived by a working group chaired by Professor David Saxon, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, during the creation of the University’s 2003 IT Strategy update.
It proposed that a senior member of IT support staff from each faculty, most likely the local IT manager, should have 50% of their line management realigned through what is now IT Services.
This proposal did not meet with universal acclaim within the distributed IT Support Community, particularly with local IT Support Managers.  It did generate a certain amount of interest in the managements of some of the faculties until they realised that there was no new money up for grabs.  At that point enthusiasm waned rapidly and the idea died the death.  In spite of this the Saxon Model still resonates around the university’s  IT support community and causes occasional nightmares for our more paranoid colleagues.