1. Building an Integrated Information System in HE The case of U
Building an Integrated Information System in HE The case of U.PORTO Lígia Maria Ribeiro

2. Digital University director: Pro-rector of U.PORTO
ICT to foster cohesion
ICT as a key factor to:
Produce, access, share and disseminate information
Foster collaboration
Increase communication
Diminish bureaucracy
Obtain performance indicators
Increase quality
Use ICT to create competitive differentiation and meet strategic goals
Digital University director: Pro-rector of U.PORTO

3. Information System: SIGARRA
Infrastructure
Supports information management in all aspects of the university activity
Teaching and learning, R&D, administration and management
Links to other university applications givin the users the information they need
Service
Allows access to information and provides tools to manage information
Every-day tool for all university users
Allows strategic information management

4. The origin of SIGARRA Information System of FEUP (SiFEUP) Born in 1996
New legal framework
Law of autonomy of universities (1988)
FEUP dean’s initiatives:
Participative strategic plan
Broadband undergraduate + specialized graduate programmes
More autonomy for programme directors
Reinforcement of central services
professional management
new services
IT investment
New premises

5. Impact: before SiFEUP Before SiFEUP
A multiplicity of autonomous and disconnected subsystems
Incompatible data models
Different technologies and formats
Many functions not automated

6. Impact: after SiFEUP After SiFEUP A coherent data model
Compatible technologies
Systematic automation of functions
Induction of new integrated application development

7. Main results Pedagogical and Research Activities
Planning the teaching service
Student performance
Course performance
Scientific productivity
Administration and management procedures
Systematic record of infrastructure information
Efficiency and productivity of services
Programme assessment reports

24. Scaling-up IRICUP SiFEUP Extension to U.PORTO Activity started in 2003
Proven system
6/7 years in production
National award (Descartes 1998)
International Award (EUNIS Elite Award 2000)
Extension to U.PORTO
SiFEUP > SIGARRA
Goal: in production in all units in 2005

25. SIGARRA Nowadays SIGARRA used by: Other Portuguese HEI
14 faculties (e.g. FMUP, FLUP, FEP)
Rectorate, IRICUP and SASUP
U.PORTO (top aggregated instance)
R&D Centre (pilot)
Other Portuguese HEI

26. Methodology (1/3) Strong implication of management
Agreement to adopt SIGARRA
Defining priorities
Obtaining cooperation of the academic community
Identifying information providers
Identifying information manager

27. Methodology (2/3) Central professional support
In-house development (IRICUP+FEUP+FCUP)
Application integration
Technical architecture HW
SW (Oracle licensing)
Training
“SIGGARA à SEXTA”
e-learning
Support for information managers and providers

28. Methodology (3/3) Configurable product Same model everywhere
Support for building a visual identity
Preserving U.PORTO identity
Support for local user access policies
Support for activation of different functionalities
Same model everywhere
Coordination easier at the university level
Overview, aggregated data and generic communication facilities directly accessible in a consolidated system for the whole university

29. SIGARRA: U.PORTO level

30. SIGARRA SIGARRA Front-Office Oracle DBMS WF engine App. Server
Unidirectional info flow
Bidirectional info flow
SIGARRA
Front-Office
Primavera
WebCT
GIAF
Financial Management
DSpace
Content Management GA
Student Management
GRH
Human Res. Management
Moodle
Learning Management
Aleph
Library Management
SIGARRA
Radius
LDAP
Identity Management
Oracle DBMS
WF engine
App. Server

31. SIGARRA: main components
Teaching and Learning
R&D
Administration and Management
Decision Support

32. Teaching and Learning Tool to support the pedagogical process
Communication facilities
Integration facilities
Library catalogue
b-Learning -> e-Learning
Assessment
Continuous education

33. Class timetables

34. Student timetables

35. Linking to premises

36. Linking to wi-fi coverage

37. Filling the course form

38. Linking to library catalogue (1/2)

39. Linking to library catalogue (2/2)

40. Linking to contents (1/2)

41. Linking to Contents (2/2)

42. Linking to LMS

43. Assessment: course report

44. Assessement: programme report

45. Continuous Education (1/2)

46. Continuous Education (1/2)

47. Programmes at U.PORTO level

48. Continuous Education at U.PORTO level

49. R & D Publications Projects CV and Activities Reports
Linking to open repositories

50. Information about teaching staff

51. Filling publication form

52. Publications

53. Projects

54. Supervision of thesis

55. Activities report (1/2)

56. Activities report (2/2)

57. Linking to U.PORTO Repository

58. Administration and management
Development of on-line services
Faster communication flows
New working methods
Institutional assessment

59. On-line services for students (1/4)

60. On-line services for students (2/4)

61. On-line services for students (3/4)

62. On-line services for students (4/4)

63. New information channels

64. News at U.PORTO level

65. Forums

66. Surveys

67. Linking to financial management systems

68. New working methods

69. Process workflow

70. Performance of Services – Trouble Tickets

71. Staff assessment

72. Decision Support: Statistics

73. Decision Support: Statistics

74. Decision Support: Statistics

75. Decision Support: Statistics

76. Decision Support: Statistics

77. SIGARRA and the Bologna Process
Supports the administrative processes
Allows availability of indicators and reports
Promotes the conception, production and sharing of pedagogical contents
Promotes the creation of community networks of knowledge
Facilitates mobility
Electronic exchange of student data

78. Course form

79. Statistics

80. Statistics

81. Conclusions Strategic Information Management Information Systems
Crucial for the continuous improvement of HEI performance
Creates competitive advantage
Information Systems
Technological Support
Follow up and monitoring of processes
Background for the deployment of Quality Systems