Aims & objectives
The Student Systems Programme is overseeing the replacement and improvement of our current range of IT-based systems used in support of the administration of applicants and students. In practical terms, there are three main components to the programme:
- To prioritise the replacement of the functions of the University’s existing core student records system, the Oracle Student System (OSS), by August 2013 when Oracle will stop providing support for it;
- To work on better integration and data-sharing between the new student records system and other systems that are used in support of applicants and student administration, and to improve administrative processes;
- To review those other systems to determine whether they are meeting requirements, and if they are not, to carry out development or replacement work where appropriate.
The aim is to provide systems that are easy to use and that effectively underpin improved administrative processes. Access to a single, or better integrated, source of applicant and student-related data will enable effective data management, analysis and reporting to support decision making and planning and Oxford’s commitment to world-class teaching and learning.
At the core is the Oracle Student System (OSS), our student record database. A range of important services are delivered by other student systems which connect with OSS. These include: for student progress reporting, the Graduate Supervision System and the Oxford Colleges Online Reports for Tutorials (OxCORT); for the management of teaching and learning provision, the Student Enrolment System and DAISY; a separate examination timetabling system (CMIS); for support of postgraduate applications, Embark (a third-party product); and ADSS (Admissions Decision Support System) and ADMIT (bespoke systems supporting undergraduate admissions).
Alongside are other established systems that are key to our support for teaching and learning activities across Oxford, including Tableau reporting, WebLearn, Nexus, Infosys, and the pilot of the Scientia timetabling system.
The need to replace our core record system offers an opportunity to evaluate these other systems that underpin administrative processes, the integration and data-sharing between these systems, and the processes that support their functions.
Programme Objectives
- Provision of systems to students, academic and administrative staff that underpin administrative processes and provide an intuitive user interface and enhanced user experience.
- Reduction in the time spent performing standard administrative processes across the collegiate University, liberating staff time for other activities.
- Reduction in multiplication of effort in data entry and analysis across the collegiate University, so that data can be captured once and shared effectively with those that require it.
- Provision of enhanced functionality, interoperability, and agility, for reduced cost and support overheads.
- Provision of systems that support rapid configuration and development, so as to be responsive to changes in policy and process.
- Empowerment of super-users to manage and manipulate data effectively via a user interface, to support data cleansing and data management activities.
- Assurance of provision of functionality to support statutory requirements.
- Sourcing of systems from a supplier or suppliers who assure long-term supply and support.
- Assurance of OSS business continuity once Oracle terminates support for OSS, to ensure that regulatory updates are developed and the service is maintained until it can be replaced.
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