Rand Afrikaans University (RAU), voted by mainstream press in the latter half of 1998 as the most effective and economical university in South Africa, has upgraded its systems to cope with anticipated growth in student numbers over the next two years.
Hewlett-Packard servers to the value of more than R1 million have been installed by Computer Configurations to run RAU`s student registration and inter-library communication system. RAU`s HP K260 has been replaced with an HP K370 to run its ITS university administration system and a K220 server has been installed in the library to run the inter-library Innopac (III) communication system linking university and technical libraries in Gauteng.
According to RAU IT director Fanie Heyneke, RAU`s future strategy will include focusing on distance learning, which will result in an increase in student numbers, and will require improved library communication with other learning institutions.
"RAU has always concentrated on controlling costs and maximising efficiencies, which entails outsourcing non-core functions, and buying the best possible solution. The growth curve we are expecting over the next two years requires the upgrading of our IT infrastructure to the latest technology, providing a high degree of reliability."
RAU has 22 000 full-time, part-time and distance education students, making it the fourth largest university in South Africa.
"RAU`s IT environment relies on the services of outside suppliers to install and maintain its critical systems," Heyneke expands. "We rely on Computer Configurations to provide presales support and technical expertise to integrate the new systems with our existing applications."
"Outsourced environments such as RAU typically retain only a small internal IT support contingent, which places the onus on the supplier to provide a reliable product," says Computer Configurations sales director Jim Jeffrey.
"However, it is also the responsibility of the supplier to guarantee a stable environment. Without suitably qualified and experienced engineers to install the system and integrate it with the university network, the installation of a single new server can disrupt the business of the university. Considering that cost is a critical factor today in education, universities may find themselves, in the long run, paying more for a new system than they anticipated, both in terms of lost time and outsourced support."
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