Thursday, February 11, 2010

USEP and IT

Information is everywhere and everyone uses it. Manipulating information with the use of the technology is widely emerging. It includes the use of computers, software, hardware, and even people ware for storing, protecting, processing, transmitting, retrieving information. Thus, creating the notion of Information technology in which name means itself.

The only constant thing in the world is nothing but change. In the new millennium, the rapid change in Information technology became apparent that almost all of the aspects in life are affected; even education. Organizations cope up with these changes which are said to be of competitive edge. Organizations including the universities use Information Technology to perform their business processes effectively and efficiently.

Universities such as the University of Southeastern Philippines use Information Technology as an instrument in achieving their goals. The university envisioned itself to be a premier university in the ASEAN Region. Furthermore, it has a mission to provide world-class quality graduates thro8ugh quality education ans sustainalble resource managemet. to the deserving students and to provide them with competencies in Science and Technology, Entrepreneurial and leadership abilities and so on. Additionally, the university has program mandates which include promoting professional training in the medicine, fisheries, engineering and industrial fields; advanced studies, research and extension services for the socio-economic development of Mindanao; courses and specialization that responds to the needs in the academe; non-formal education for the development; and scholarship and part-time job opportunities for the deserving students.

In line with the university’s aim, the school partnered with various agencies which and rendered services that ensures development. International agencies include: Knowledge for Development Center (with World Bank); Philippine-Australia Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao ith the Australian Agency for International Development);
Institute of Languages (with Sung-Duk College, South Korea); Pamulaan Center for Indigenous Peoples’ Education (with Assisi Development Foundation); Philippine-Australia Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao; (with the Australian Agency for International Development); for Pre-Service Education; Southeast Asian Ministries of Education Organization Regional Center for Vocational and Technical Education and
Training in Brunei Darussalam (with SEAMEO-VOCTECH); Resources for the Blind, Inc. (with Christoffel-Blinden Mission of Germany) ; Confucius Institute (with the Republic of China); Human Resource Development in Teacher Education and Languages (with the Australian Government, under PAHRDF) among others.

Also, to maintain the quality education the university is boosting for, USeP is offering various services and is using different systems. Systems and management scheme includes Dynamic Administration and Management System; Highly Motivated and Competent University Faculty; Ladderized System of Education; to provide wider access to higher education; Equivalency Program and Accreditation Schemes; Pamulaan Center for Indigenous Peoples’ Education and Mindanao e-Learning Space (MiSpace) so on and so forth.

Also, the university provides its residents with different facilities such as the Speech Laboratories ; Dormitory/Training Center ; Social Hall ; Conference Rooms ; Computer Center ; Sports Facilities ; Virtual Library ; Tissue Culture Laboratories; Mindanao eLearning Space; WB Knowledge for Development Center ; Physical and Natural Science Laboratories ; SWEEP Wireless Laboratory ; Science and Technology Learning Resource Center ; Crop and Animal Production Projects ; Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services; Administration (PAGASA) Station; Affiliated Non-conventional Energy Center; College of Education Training and Review Center; Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency an Accreditation Program; Institute of Languages; WB-Knowledge for Development Center; Lifelong Study Center; Mindanao Center for Policy Studies; Mindanao Center for Technical Education & Staff Development; Mindanao e-Learning Space; Pamulaan Center for Indigenous Peoples Education; Regional Center for Human Rights Education; Regional Trades and Crafts Training and Production Center; Teacher Training Center-Mindanao and Zonal Computerization Center.

As mentioned above, it is very evident that the university uses the application of Information Technology in its operations. The university not only offers programs related to Information Technology but also employs IT in the other programs and services. It also partnered with the IT-reliant organizations to undertake development.

Assuming I have with me the crystal ball and I would have to foresee on what USeP shall be three years from now (that would be along 2013), I have to identify three IT changes in IT which has significant impact on the school services of the university. These changes include system integration, improved enrollment system and organizational plan that adopts to the fast changing IT environment.


According to Morton, IT may consist of five basic components - computers, communications technology, work stations, robotics, and computer chips. It may also mean devices that transmit, manipulate, analyze, or exploit information; in which a digital computer processes information integral to the user's communication or decision task; and that have made their appearance since 1970 or exist in a form that aids in communication or decision tasks to a significantly greater degree than did pre-1971 forms,” as defined by Huber.

According to Edward J. Bride in his Transitions - changes to Information Technology Association of America, Information Technology not only talks of the software, network services, and systems integration and consulting, it also includes the entire IT environment.

According to Malhotra, Yogesh in his Role of Information Technology in Managing Organizational Change and Organizational Interdependence, organizational changes are in line with the changes in Information technology. The growth of the organization depends on the effective usage of IT. Thus, organizational environment and the information preferences creates symbiotic relationship.

As Norbert Wiener quoted “, we modified our environment so radically that we must modify ourselves in order to exist in this new environment. “

IT changes in USeP include:

1.) Integrated systems utilization

Faculties and students in the university with certain initiatives powered by motivations are able to create information systems which have different goals. These systems if successfully deployed will be of great help in the services of the university. The university integrated system also known as the “uniisys” encompasses several batches of system which include: Ebenta which is an online bidding system for the students to engage in E-Commerce activity; Edikit, an An online publication system; Upahibalo, an organizational information system; Iskolar which is a scholarship information system Alumnay sa USeP, a university alumni information system, Shareit, an online file sharing social site; Etudlo, an online tutorial service provider; Escheduler, and scheduling information system among others.

I believe these are few of the changes that could happen in the university which has a great impact on the operations of the university. Systems are created to bring benefit to the residents such as the students, faculty and staff.

The university strives for more developed systems which bring forth more productive operations. And because of this, students are still initiating and developing for the possible systems that could be integrated on the said system. Also, staff is making other systems, although not for the intent of integrating the uniisys, but for the development of the other operations’ concerns.

For years of the systems integration and development, it is possible to look at the university utilizing the systems developed by the students.


2.) Improved enrollment system

Although the university already has its own enrollment system which for years have been developed, involved parties seem not really satisfied. With this, I consider the improvement of the said system to take place in the next three years. With the goal of minimizing the cost and time spent among the students, faculty and staff, the enrollment system is expected to be developed in a way that it is being efficiently utilized.



3.) Organizational structure

According to (Malone and Crowston, the increasing speed pace of change require more flexible and adaptive organizations. Rockart and Short cites the ballooning need for the interdependence of organizational structure to IT in managing competitive pressures that included globalization, time-based competition, increased market risk, and a greater emphasis on customer service and cost reduction. Bennis states that "the organization's response to the environment will continue to be the crucial determinant for its effectiveness."

As organizations use information, effective usage of Information Technology likely results to the organizations development and growth.

It is apparent that IT has great impact in the university, and whatever changes in IT has the university as an IT-reliant organization has to go with the changes in order not to be behind. As Keen (1991) noted that IT increasingly and continuously affects the organizations operations as well as its behavior including issues as on how the organization organize, transact business, and contend with other organization.


REFERENCES:

http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/careersintechnology/p/ITDefinition.htm

http://www.usep.edu.ph/version/

http://uniisys.usep.edu.ph/index.php?link=links

Malhotra, Yogesh. (1993). Role of Information Technology in Managing Organizational Change and Organizational Interdependence [WWW document]. URL http://www.brint.com/papers/change/

Bride,Edward J. (1991). Transitions - changes to Information Technology Association of America. URL http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0SMG/is_n15_v11/ai_11608052/

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