The value of outsourcing ICT infrastructure is increasingly recognised by education institutions - it is not only a question of having an excellent team providing a professional service, but also a matter of ensuring that risk provision is met; after all, few colleges can operate if the system crashes.
New College Durham is one such institution; it provides a very wide range of learning opportunities, from vocational, AS/A2 level and apprenticeships to learners aged 16 upwards, to community courses, professional programmes, Degrees, Higher National Certificates and Higher National Diplomas to adults aged over 19.
In 2002 the college appointed Fujitsu, one of the world's largest IT providers, to deliver the college's ICT infrastructure, providing every aspect of IT support, from desktop queries to maintaining servers and networks and supporting multiple computer systems, in order to keep up with the demanding nature of the college's evolution, as Mr Race explains: "Seven years ago the college had some major issues in IT terms; since Fujitsu came on board they have made a fantastic contribution to the college's provision and professional approach in ensuring top class ICT for students, lecturers and on-site businesses - which has been a central component to our success."
Yet success brought with it its own challenges as the college saw year on year growth in the number of full-time students - five to six hundred more students meant more courses and more staff members - potentially a real IT headache. "The extent of this rapid rate of expansion was demanding. What Fujitsu allowed us to do is to cope with capacity with an innovative and flexible approach". The college relocated services, converted office space into classrooms and expanded to offices outside the main campuses in order to meet these growing numbers.
Today, the college has been praised by Ofsted for its standards of "information learning technology", the "outstanding quality of provision" and the college's "wonderful resources". Recognising the importance of IT to its bright future, New College Durham has signed a contract extension with Fujitsu, ensuring it continues to meet the expectations of all connected with the college.
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