Ensuring that the university is a smoothly running machine and that staff and students have access to state-of-the-art technology calls for an effective, skilled IT department. Rest assured that, after a lot of hard work and careful planning, this is exactly what the NWU has.

The restructuring of the NWU had an immense impact on the IT department, not just in terms of its own new structure, but also the system changes that kept the dedicated staff busy for nearly a year. The results show that the effort is worth it.

How has the IT structure changed?

According to Boeta Pretorius, chief director for IT, all campus IT departments now report directly to IT in the new structure.

Potchefstroom Electronic Services is now part of IT as an institutional service. Audiovisual responsibilities are also now IT’s work. Another change is that the Library Information Systems staff report to IT in the new structure.

All these changes have resulted in IT having a staff complement of 188 permanent positions. “We are very excited about these changes as we will lead the university into the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” says Boeta.

IT is taking NWU into the future

Boeta says their IT strategy focuses on the digital revolution and what value it can add to the NWU’s core business.

Cyber security will remain a focus in the foreseeable future. The establishment of modern technology, good architectural principles, new skills and a common vision are the critical success factors. Boeta says these will make them the best IT department in the South African higher education environment.

Divisions all part of a phenomenal IT team

The NWU’s IT team now consists of eight divisions. They are Electronic Services; Mafikeng Campus Division; Potchefstroom Campus Division; Vaal Triangle Campus Division; Business Systems; Architecture and Middleware; IT Operations and Infrastructure and Academic and Office Solutions.