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More about ICT Resources

From here you can find out backround information about the centrally provided ICT resources.

Maintenance Closure Schedule

ICT may close the resources from time to time for essential maintenance and software upgrades. We endeavour to ensure that all resources are available during the three year degree teaching term, but we regret that we have to carry out maintenance during the two year degree/postgraduate term. Please check the current maintenance schedule before booking the resources outside of the three year degree teaching term.

Planned Resource Upgrades

ICT operates a rolling plan of resource upgrades which aims to ensure that each resource receives a physical upgrade once every three years. During the lifespan of a resource, the software load on the machines is upgraded annually through a process called "re-imaging". Significant new versions of software, essential software requests, or major operating system upgrades, may also be installed during the Winter and Spring breaks.

Rationale for Resources

The central provision of ICT resources for teaching and production allows the College to get better value through eliminating redundancy of resources and minimising the duplication of services. This means the College is able to provide more resources than most other institutions. Although particular ICT resources are likely to be of more interest to some programmes than others, all centrally provided ICT resources for undergraduate use are available to everyone in the College.

Each resource is developed in response to a business case. A business case may start with a programme requirement - for example, through resource requirements of particular taught units. Alternatively, a business case may arise out of a strategic priority.

The physical ICT resource envelope is pretty much fixed as it depends on the availability rooms. However, the detail of resource provision is subject to annual review. You can find out more information about how resources are planned, and how you can contribute to the review and development process.

Software Updates

Normally, the "software footprint" of a resource is only changed when the resource is re-imaged. This maximises the availability of the resource, and ensures that the institution is able to effectively plan and manage its software licensing. Requests for new software may be raised at course committees. A well-justified request will normally be approved for installation at the next reimaging. Tutors who are planning to teach new software - please ensure you raise your request in good time, as reimaging normally happens during vacations. In practice, we advise that you make your requests a term in advance. We also recommend that you familiarise yourself with the software that it currently available. For cost reasons, it is unlikely that new software which duplicates the functionality of existing software will be approved outside of the strategic planning cycle.

 

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