This Project list was updated in November 2021.
Background
As part of its strategy, the University of Limerick aims to increase the number of international students. To support this strategy
ITD’s Business Engagement Partner worked in conjunction with UL Global and Academic Registry to facilitate the UL Global request (via Tender).
The service comprising of an online platform will connect UL Offer-Holders (for example students going on Erasmus to another University or coming into UL) with peer Offer-Holders, current students, staff and alumni.
The service provided by the successful tenderer could be availed of by any Department of the University of Limerick that is resourced to implement the service. ITD’s involvement in the tender ensured compliance with best practices and followed UL’s Enterprise Architecture Principles and IT Security Policy.
The following table outlines the key ‘high-level’ phases within the overall project.
Why are we doing this?
Impacted Services/What does it mean for you?
Project Name: University of Limerick Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) & Self Service Password Reset (SSPR) for Students & Staff
What’s the project about?
Multifactor Authentication (MFA) is a security system that requires more than one method of authentication from an independent source, to verify the user's identity for a logon or other transaction.
The University of Limerick has been subject to a number of security attacks on student Microsoft Services over the last year. These attacks pose a major risk to our networks and computer systems, while they also have the potential to compromise critical systems and lead to data protection issues.
The deployment of Multifactor Authentication has been recommended by the Data Protection Commission, as outlined in GDPR guidelines to enhance security processes and minimise the impact of phishing cyber-attacks. This project is one of an overall set of security measures being deployed by the University of Limerick.
In conjunction with MFA, Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) will be enabled for both students & staff. This was a change of scope to the project, however, will allow students and staff to reset their UL computer account password anywhere, anytime without the need to contact the ITD Service Desk. Self-Service Password Reset can be used if users have forgotten their password, need to change their password, while also giving them the ability to unlock their own account.
What does it mean for Students & Staff?
Students and staff with a University of Limerick Microsoft 365 account, are now periodically requested for MFA when accessing Microsoft 365 services, e.g. Email, One Drive, Teams, and SharePoint when connecting to the network remotely. Students are not yet requested for MFA while located in the Student Villages or while on Campus, however going forward they will be, in order to tighten the University of Limerick security posture.
Status?
The project is still active. All Students & Staff are enabled for MFA & SSPR. The combined registration experience (One authentication for both MFA & SSPR) has also been implemented.
The following is a summary of the key project activities and their status.
Project Name: Radius Implementation for GPS
What is the project about?
As part of its strategy, the University of Limerick aims to increase the number of postgraduate, professional studies and international students. The importance of engaging with and maintaining relationships with prospective students, international agents/partners and industry contacts is key to the conversion of applicants into students.
To support this strategy, ITD, working in partnership with Graduate Professional Studies (GPS) and UL Global (ULG), have deployed a CRM system (Radius) for select groups of applicants in the student admissions lifecycle. A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) System is a technology product, used by companies to help manage interactions with current and potential customers. Radius is a leading cloud-based CRM System, which is used by universities throughout the world to develop a communications and engagement strategy with prospective students.
What does it mean for you?
This project provides a technology tool to help the Graduate Professional Studies (GPS) and UL Global (ULG) teams to develop a communications and engagement strategy with prospective students, from the application stage through to student registration. Applicants will receive an enhanced experience from their interactions with the University of Limerick.
Status?
A new integration process from SI to Radius (via the ITD managed Business Intelligence Data Warehouse) has been successfully developed and implemented. Throughout August and September, select post-offer communications campaigns for taught postgraduate programmes, taught professional education programmes and Non-EU applicants to undergraduate full-time programmes were managed on Radius. The project team are now working to define the requirements from the broader GPS and ULG teams for the future rollout of Radius functionality. Implementation of future requirements will be resourced as a separate project activity over the coming months.
The project is in the Execute Phase, status Green.
The following is a summary of the key project activities and their status.
Project Name - Panopto Lecture Capture Project
What’s the project about?
“Panopto” is the leading video content management system for Higher Education and has been selected by the University of Limerick, with a campus wide license secured in August 2020.
ITD purchased recording equipment for lecture capture, with over one hundred and twenty teaching spaces now equipped with recording facilities. In addition, Aver Advanced Tracking Cameras have been deployed within 11 large lecture theatres which enables the camera to track your movement with AI technology to easily detect the teaching areas.
ITD also purchased mobile video and audio recording kits, which can be used in non-standard teaching spaces to record hi-quality audio and video resources. Each kit consists of high-end recording technology, which have been allocated to faculty technologist.
What does it mean for you?
For staff:
For students:
Status?
The project is in the Ramp Phase, status Green.
The following is a summary of the key project activities and their status.
Further information on Panopto is available on TOPdesk portal and also on the LTF Website.
Project Name: - Cloud Desktop Transformation Project
What’s the project about?
The University of Limerick are implementing a Windows Virtual App & Desktop solution to provide additional remote access for students and staff to digital services. Currently, remote access to IT services is provided by a VPN (Virtual Private Network) solution.
The purpose of this project is to implement a solution to allow staff and students to access their desktop and applications located on a remote server, from anywhere, on any endpoint device. The project will initially focus on a defined set of pilot users and will be rolled out to additional users based on the results from the pilot.
What does it mean for you?
This project will enable students to access software or applications, which are currently available in the ITD managed campus labs, via a remote virtual solution. Staff will be able to access applications such as Agresso and Core HR, and shared drives, from any remote location without having to leverage the VPN solution or connect to a campus-based device.
Status?
A pilot group of approximately 100 staff and student users have been set up with the solution. The feedback has been very positive to date. Testing has, however, highlighted performance issues with the SI application in the virtual environment and therefore cannot be supported by the solution. It has recently been agreed that Windows Virtual App & Desktop solution will be the default method for accessing Core HR and Agresso for new staff and the project team are currently working to implement this direction. A decision on the future rollout of the solution will be taken at a later time.
The project is in the Execute Phase, status Green.
The following is a summary of the key project activities and their status.
Project Name - Windows 7 to Windows 10 Migration
What’s the Project About?
The University of Limerick currently has a combination of both Windows 7 and Windows 10 devices. Windows 7 is no longer a supported model from Microsoft. Due to Covid-19, the University has decided that best practice is to purchase laptops instead of desktops, which will reduce the number of desktops that will need to be upgraded.
What does the Project Mean for You?
Microsoft support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020, however the University of Limerick has purchased extended support from Microsoft, to upgrade all relevant hardware by 14th January 2022.
After that date, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or support for PCs running Windows 7, any device still running this version of Windows will become more vulnerable to security risks.
All staff that are using a UL Managed Windows 7 device have been contacted by the Project Team, requesting them to back up their data and either upgrade or replace their Windows 7 device.
Status?
ITD are engaging with each Faculty & Department manager to discuss how this project will affect their areas and to develop a local plan for Windows 10 rollout.
A reminder campus email will be circulated to Windows 7 devices owners, informing them that from the 26th November all Windows devices will be disconnected from the UL IT network. Over 950 devices have already been successfully upgraded/replaced.
All inactive devices have been removed from AD prior to June 30th 2021.
The overall project is in the Execute Phase, status Green.
The following is a summary of the key project activities and their status.
Project Name - Teaching Spaces Digital Refurbishment Project
What’s the project about?
This project involved the full Audio-Visual kit out of 114 teaching spaces to improve the digital experience and ensure a consistent service for Lecturers and Students. ITD maintains a template for new rooms being commissioned or being refurbished. New equipment included projectors, screens, speakers, controllers, document cameras, webcams, additional whiteboards and tamper proof podiums.
Cutting edge technologies were deployed to enable ITD to remotely view and control the AV equipment, without having to physically attend the teaching space. ITD have seen a welcome reduction in calls due to the upgraded equipment and improved cable management.
What does it mean for you?
Lecturers & Students will benefit from a reliable teaching environment that’s easy to use.
By having a standard Audio-Visual deployment, both Lecturer and Students have a consistent teaching experience, with similar technology in each centrally bookable teaching space.
Below: New podium in the Jean Monneet Lecture Theatre
Status?
Over the summer, we saw the final round of room installations having been completed in the current Teaching Spaces Digital Refit project. The Project team is now working on its final activities and will be closing the project in the coming months
The overall project is in the Ramp Phase, status Green.
