Information and Communications Technology Centre (ICTC)

Roadmap

Roadmap for Effective Running and Development of the ICT Centre

In order to execute her mandate and become successful and make the desired impact in the day to day running of the University in pursuance of the Mantra of the present Administration “Driving the Culture of Excellence”, the ICT Centre must develop capabilities that will move FUTO away from depending on moving information on memo papers to that to be driven by the knowledge power of Information Technology (IT). To achieve this, a holistic roadmap with a master plan that will span the lifetime of the administration is needed.  That plan will provide a robust platform that will make FUT Owerri the primus inter Peres in Africa and get international recognition. ICT Centre, if well positioned has the capability to make this happen. I, as the Director of the Centre, therefore, suggest the roadmap outlined below and propose timelines as follows:

1. Development and Administration of FUTO Website
   • The FUTO Website is the window through which the outside world sees the University and the corridor through which University interacts with the outside world. With this in mind, it means that the website must be interactive and must contain web pages. Therefore, the website will be such that all the activities happening in FUTO will be uploaded regularly. The high calibre staff in the Centre will be effectively managed to provide this service. (KPI: Activities in the various units of the University will be seen in futo.edu.ngregularly).
2. Development of Portal for Hostel Allocation & Collection of Fees
   • The centre will develop portals for the collection of all dues and fees payable to the University.  This will help to ensure that all monies due to the University are accounted for.  This will also enable the Bursary unit to confirm any such payment claims as may be made by anybody. (KPI: All fees and hostel allocations would have been done online).
3. Development of Indigenous Computer- Based Test Software
   • The centre under my Directorship will work hard to develop indigenous Computer Based Test (CBT) Software. This will enable the Centre to really be in charge of the conducting of the CBT examinations of any magnitude without external help. (KPI: Foundation year courses must have been administered to students using locally developed CBT software).
4. Database for Students Records
   • The ICT Centre will develop and create a Data Base of students’ records. This will include prompt processing of transcripts and verification of certificates. The Centre will work assiduously to develop a University-wide model for the computation of results and issuance of registration numbers to newly admitted students. (KPI: Students would have been completing the registration of courses online as well as having the Matriculation numbers issued to all fresh students before First Semester Examinations).
5. Provision of Electronic Identity Cards for both Staff and Students
   • The need for e-ID Card for students cannot be overemphasized.  The e-ID card should be able to perform the following functions:
     • Identify FUTO staff and students at all times.
     • Admit them into Examination Halls
     • Enable students to do online transactions
   • To mention but a few. (KPI: Every FUTO student and staff would have been identified properly).
6. Internet Available on Campus
   • With the support of the Vice-Chancellor, the Centre will develop a mechanism that will roll out fast and robust Internet Services on campus to enable staff and students carry out research, access information and carry out online course registration. This will come in forms of wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) and fixed (wired) as may be required. (KPI: University Community must have been surfing the net with robust campus-wide Internet).
7. Development of the Online Application System
   • The ICT Centre will develop an Online Application System internally using available human resources in the Centre. Every application/admission forms into FUTO such as PG application, Post UTME Screening forms, supplementary applications, CCE JUPEB and Pre-Degree forms must be online hence forms to meet international best practice. (KPI: All applications forms must have been perfected and carried out).
8. Capacity Building for Staff
   • The ICT Centre will engage in training and retraining of University staff from time to time on existing and emerging technologies to keep them updated. As new Internet and cybersecurity threats emerge, the ICT Centre will be organizing sensitization forums for staff on the threats. (KPI: Staff will be ICT Centre friendly).
9. Provision of @futo.edu.ng E-mails
   • Every staff of FUTO will be assigned the @futo.edu.ng  e-mail and efforts must be made to ensure that the staff make use of it always in all official correspondences. (KPI: Every staff would have replaced his/her addresses with @futo.edu.ng as the major address).
10. Result Processing/Transcript Processing
    • Result and Transcript processing system will be developed by the ICT Centre to ensure prompt availability of results for the students and online transcript application by Alumni members. (KPI: 48 hours availability of transcript, all things being equal).
11. Automatic Generation of Matriculation Numbers/Verification of O’Level Results for Prospective Students
    • The ICT Centre will ensure that henceforth, all matriculated students will have their matriculation numbers at least two weeks after the matriculation ceremony.  This will be generated automatically to ensure that there are no duplications. Prospective students will have their O’level results screened before registering as students of the University. This will serve as a checkmate for unqualified students to be admitted. (KPI: Matriculation numbers issued to all fresh students before First Semester Examinations).
12. IT Support for various Units/Departments
    • The ICT Centre will provide IT support to the entire University Community such as:
      • Help Desk Services
      • Information Security
      • Training
      • IT equipment Maintenance
      • Advice on Procurement of IT equipment/software. (KPI: How happy the University Community is with the ICT Centre).

13. Harmonization of ICT Infrastructure on Campus
    • Various vendors over time have been engaged by the University Management at some point in time to provide various IT services for the University. This gave rise to duplication of infrastructural provisions, sometimes identical in nature but running parallel to one another. My Directorship, with the support of the Vice-Chancellor, will intensify efforts to harmonize the operations of all these vendors seamlessly. (KPI: Loading ………).
14. Gown to Town
    • The ICT Centre will introduce structured and special courses to take to town. These will help to project the image of the University and at the same time generate IGR for the University. (KPI: Number of training carried out).