This term sees the completion of several large projects: TMS, the new Teaching Management System that replaces OxCORT; eExpenses, that is being rolled out across the University; and online coursework submission that is now being done using Inspera.
We are currently working to upgrade the phone system, Wi-Fi provision across the University, and the backup service offered by IT Services.
You might also want to read our Education IT digest, which has more detail about our education-related projects, including TMS and online coursework submission.
Expense claims going online
A simple, quicker, common process for expenses claims
SAP Concur eExpenses is now live for most departments and will be introduced to those remaining by Easter 2022. However, please don’t use eExpenses until directed by your finance or admin team, as your claim may get stalled. If in doubt, ask your finance or admin team.
Find out more about online expenses claims.
Chorus telephony upgrade
Making better use of virtual infrastructure and providing increased stability and flexibility
An upgrade to Chorus telephony is due to be completed in Trinity Term 2022. This upgrade will maintain and support over 15,000 physical handsets, analogue and critical services, voicemail, and contact centre users.
Due to supplier limitations not all of the existing Chorus functionality can be upgraded. 'Unified Communications' (Chorus softphones, and web client and preferred device functionality) will no longer be available. Instead, users will be offered equivalent functionality including a move to MS Teams for telephony for a small number of already identified people. They will be able to make and receive external and internal calls from within MS Teams using a headset, and retaining their existing telephone number. A future project will investigate moving all users to telephony over MS Teams (options for desk phones will also be explored). At the same time contact centre over MS Teams will be investigated, along with alternative arrangements for analogue and critical services.
If you wish to be kept updated, a Chorus user group has been set up on Teams, which you can join directly with the code 67s3u62.
New self-service training data reports
Improved access to training data for better reporting and analysis
This term sees the launch of a new service that improves access to training data held in CoSy (Accessplanit) and LinkedIn Learning. The service allows users to extract, on demand, training course completion data combined with fields from HR and SITS data, ready to be analysed and reported in any format.
The service will be available to staff whose roles require them to present or report training data internally or externally, for business planning and management as well as making regulatory and statutory returns. Replacing a process whereby users made a request to individual training providers each time they required data for their reports, it is the most efficient and sustainable way to ensure the continued availability of up-to-date centrally-held data available on demand in a format that facilitates analysis and reporting.
Further information can be found on the Self-service training data reports webpages.
Backup service replacement
Automatic, unlimited Cloud-based backup service
Now that it's been deployed for existing users, the new cloud-based Code42 backup service for desktops and laptops is now open for new staff, postgraduate students and Senior Member users.
Code42 brings a range of benefits - more details and registration is available from the Code42 support page.
The new HFS onsite service for servers, bringing increased back-end performance, security and deeper file versioning, is currently in the Early Adopter phase, ahead of full rollout.
Wireless replacement project introduces new 'Managed Wireless Service'
A reliable, robust and secure Wi-Fi service for the University
The COWLSHUR project is busy rolling out new Juniper Mist technology to replace existing equipment and provide a reliable, robust and secure Wi-Fi service for the University. The new service has been named the 'Managed Wireless Service' and is fully supported by the Managed Network Services team within IT Services.
