This department is responsible for the research & development, training, support, content & media
services within the directorate.
The head of this unit reports directly to the director. Units and functions in this department include
the below listed.
Research & Development
A core function of the directorate is the research and development of software products and
services that help the university achieve its ICT goals. Some of the services to be undertaken by
this unit include the below listed.
Front-End (Web & Mobile)
The front-end team carries out all required R&D programming efforts that are related
to the delivery of software development projects undertaken by the R&D unit. These
efforts are largely concerned with the interactions between the software service and
the user (or user devices).
Back-End (Web & Mobile)
The back-end team carries out all required R&D programming efforts that are related
to the delivery of software development projects undertaken by the R&D unit. These
efforts are largely concerned with the interactions between the software service and
the project hosting server.
UI/UX
The front-end team carries out all required research and development efforts that are
related to the user interaction and experience of all software development projects
undertaken by the R&D unit.
Internet Services
Quality access to the internet is a core need of the university, as such, the internet
services team, working closely with the network infrastructure team ensures that the
internet services within the university, across all campuses, is fully operational. They
are incharge of all configurations and software services running and supporting the
Internet.
Data Centre
The Data Centre houses all the servers that the university uses and are
tagged accordingly. The data center is expected to warehouse repositories
and various data from research efforts both from within and outside the
university. The Data Centre will require a constant power supply; therefore,
it will be powered by solar energy with backup power supplies.
Graphics
The graphics unit provides brand-specific graphical designs and publications that are in
line with the marketing and brand policies of the university. These produced items are
then used on other ICT based products and services of the university and on all
university web properties such as, but not limited to, website(s), social media profiles,
etc.
Research & Analytics
The research & analysis team provides data-driven reports and research on the use,
implementation, adoption, and adaptation of ICT based products and services across
the university community.
Software Lab
The software lab is a combination of high processing computers and licensed
software that is capable of satisfying any form of software experiment or
software research. This lab will also be used to simulate cybersecurity
processes and run process-hungry services.
Cybersecurity
The cybersecurity team is tasked with monitoring and safeguarding all ICT based
products and services of the university against external and/or internal security threats
and provide quality, fast, and efficient responses in cases of observed breaches.
Content/Media Services
This unit is responsible for the periodic content and media-based updates to the university
web properties such as, but not limited to, website(s), social media profiles, etc.
Training/Certification
This unit is responsible for all ICT required and/or ICT based training across the university. This
includes sourcing for relevant training(s), communicating and engaging reputable trainer(s) or
organization(s), harmonizing training schedule(s), establishment and maintaining of a world
class certifications and test center. This training and certifications may be for staff of the
directorate, the university community or members of the public.
Support
To fully implement the ICT goals of the directorate, the support unit is responsible for providing
reliable, fast, efficient, and quality support across all spectrums of the university ICT products
and services. This includes products and services developed by the directorate and those from
3rd parties. Teams under this unit are itemized below.
Faculty Support
A faculty ICT technical staff is assigned to each faculty of the university. These
individuals provide required support to issues affecting university staff and students in
the faculty and the departments within the faculty.
General Support
The general support team provides support for issues emanating from staff and/or
students not based on faculties such as centres, units, and independent departments.
The team also acts as a level 2 support for critical support requests not resolved at the
faculty level.