Oxford University Computing Services
Encyclopedia
Oxford University Computing Services (OUCS) provides the central Information Technology
services for the University of Oxford
. The service is based at 7-19 Banbury Road
in central north Oxford
, England
, near the junction with Keble Road
.
Oxford University Computing Services offers facilities, training and advice to members of the University in all aspects of academic computing. OUCS is responsible for the core networks reaching all departments and colleges of Oxford University. OUCS is made up of 5 technical and one administration group. Each group has responsibility for different aspects of OUCS services supplied to the University. The 5 technical groups are: Learning Technologies, Information and Support, Network Systems Management Services, Infrastructure Systems and Services Group, and Network and Telecommunications.
at 9 South Parks Road
, a Victorian
building, now demolished to make way for the Experimental Psychology and Zoology departments. In 1963, due to space problems, the staff and computers moved to 19 Parks Road
, the old Engineering Building. In 1970, the Computing Service occupied 17 and 19 Banbury Road, having split from the Computing Laboratory, which became the academic computer science department for the University. By 1975, the Computing Service had taken over all of 7 to 19 Banbury Road, as it still does today. An outpost at 59 George Street
in central Oxford closed in the mid 1990s.
OUCS will fulfill its Mission :
.
Dr Mike Fraser is Head of Infrastructure Systems and Services Group.
Roger Treweek is Head of Network and Telecommunications Group.
Melissa Highton is Head of Learning Technologies Group (LTG).
Sebastian Rahtz is Head of Information and Support Group.
Wylie Horn is Head of Network Systems Management Services (NSMS), and
Bruce Shakespeare is Head of Administration.
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
services for the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. The service is based at 7-19 Banbury Road
Banbury Road
Banbury Road is a major arterial road in Oxford, England, running from St Giles' at the south end, north towards Banbury through the leafy suburb of North Oxford and Summertown, with its local shopping centre. Parallel and to the west is the Woodstock Road, which it meets at the junction with St...
in central north Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, near the junction with Keble Road
Keble Road
Keble Road is a short road running east-west in central Oxford, England. To the west is the southern end of the Banbury Road with St Giles' Church opposite. To the east is Parks Road with the University Parks opposite...
.
Oxford University Computing Services offers facilities, training and advice to members of the University in all aspects of academic computing. OUCS is responsible for the core networks reaching all departments and colleges of Oxford University. OUCS is made up of 5 technical and one administration group. Each group has responsibility for different aspects of OUCS services supplied to the University. The 5 technical groups are: Learning Technologies, Information and Support, Network Systems Management Services, Infrastructure Systems and Services Group, and Network and Telecommunications.
History
A lease on a house was obtained in 1957 and operation started in 1958, initially as the Computing LaboratoryOxford University Computing Laboratory
The Department of Computer Science, until 2011 named the Computing Laboratory , is a department of Oxford University in England...
at 9 South Parks Road
South Parks Road
South Parks Road is a road in Oxford, England. It runs east-west past the main Science Area of the University of Oxford, where many of the science departments are located....
, a Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
building, now demolished to make way for the Experimental Psychology and Zoology departments. In 1963, due to space problems, the staff and computers moved to 19 Parks Road
Parks Road
Parks Road is a road in Oxford, England, with several Oxford University colleges along its route. It runs north-south from the Banbury Road and Norham Gardens at the northern end, where it continues into Bradmore Road, to the junction with Broad Street, Holywell Street and Catte Street to the...
, the old Engineering Building. In 1970, the Computing Service occupied 17 and 19 Banbury Road, having split from the Computing Laboratory, which became the academic computer science department for the University. By 1975, the Computing Service had taken over all of 7 to 19 Banbury Road, as it still does today. An outpost at 59 George Street
George Street, Oxford
George Street is a street in central Oxford, England. It is a shopping street running east-west. Its eastern end meets Broad Street at a crossroads with Cornmarket Street to the south and Magdalen Street to the north...
in central Oxford closed in the mid 1990s.
Mission
The Mission Statement of OUCS is:-- To provide high-quality and cost-effective IT services that meet the needs of the University and its members;
- to contribute to the University's wide range of IT training and relevant training resources;
- to foster and support excellence, innovation, best practice, and value for money in the use of IT in teaching, learning, and research across the University;
- to promote effective communication throughout the University IT community.
OUCS will fulfill its Mission :
- By operating, developing and supporting the University's primary computing infrastructure and services including facilities such as the network backbone and its external connections; central email, web, news, and backup servers; and other core university-wide support services including security and anti-virus support;
- by fostering the effective use of IT in all disciplines through the provision and development of training and courses, learning and teaching resources, and by such activities as negotiating advantageous arrangements for the supply and maintenance of hardware and software etc.;
- by actively supporting the work of, and collaborating closely with, IT Support Staff within the University;
- by developing centres of expertise in relevant areas relating to the application of IT;
- by promoting and demonstrating good practice.
Senior managers
Dr Stuart Lee is the Director, Computing Systems & Services. Dr Lee is an HEA National Teaching FellowNational Teaching Fellowship
The Higher Education Academy's National Teaching Fellowship scheme recognises and rewards individual excellence in teaching in higher education in England and Northern Ireland. Fifty awards are made annually. The scheme began in 2000, with total funding per year of £2.5 million.-External links:***...
.
Dr Mike Fraser is Head of Infrastructure Systems and Services Group.
Roger Treweek is Head of Network and Telecommunications Group.
Melissa Highton is Head of Learning Technologies Group (LTG).
Sebastian Rahtz is Head of Information and Support Group.
Wylie Horn is Head of Network Systems Management Services (NSMS), and
Bruce Shakespeare is Head of Administration.
See also
- Oxford University Computing LaboratoryOxford University Computing LaboratoryThe Department of Computer Science, until 2011 named the Computing Laboratory , is a department of Oxford University in England...
- University of Cambridge Computing ServiceUniversity of Cambridge Computing ServiceThe University of Cambridge Computing Service provides computing facilities across the University of Cambridge. It is located primarily on the New Museums Site, Free School Lane, in the centre of Cambridge, England....
- Oxford University Computing Services is an affiliated member of the Sakai ProjectSakai ProjectThis page is about the software project, for other meanings, see Sakai.Sakai is a community of academic institutions, commercial organizations and individuals who work together to develop a common Collaboration and Learning Environment...
- Oxford University Computing Services is a member of the Opencast CommunityOpencastOpencast is a term to describe audio and video content, primarily in an academic context. It combines the terms "Open" for Open Source and/or Open Access and "Broadcast"...
- Oxford University Computing Services host several national services including OSS WatchOSS WatchOSS Watch is the United Kingdom's advisory service for issues relating to free and open source software in the Further Education and Higher Education sectors. Since 2003 it has provided consultations and briefing materials about the legal, social, technical and economic aspects of open source...
External links
- Oxford University Computing Services website
- OUCS user pages
- Oxford University Computing Services on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- The First World War Poetry Digital Archive
- The University of Oxford on iTunes U
- Press coverage of Oxford on ITunes U