Options for structuring ict sector level cooperation and governance

Options for structuring ict sector level cooperation and governance

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  Options for structuringsector-level ICT cooperation and governance author: Eric Kluijfhout, [email protected]   This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/devnations/2.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA.  
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  Options for structuringsector-level ICT cooperation and governance Eric Kluijfhout Towards an ICT Strategy for the Ethiopian Higher Education Sector Addis Ababa, 24-25 November 2009 Ministry of Education of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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  When does sector-levelcooperation work? When all involved profit!
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  Reasons for IHEsto cooperate at sector-level Shortage: share or exchange scarce resources Efficiency: address common problems - solve once, implement many Interoperability: develop and operate a shared infrastructure Create clout: strengthen common position
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  Reasons for Governmentto delegate to sector-level Ownership: problems are best addressed at the level where they occur Academic autonomy: separation of responsibilities Lack of capacity: qualitative and/or quantitative Conditions Quality assurance Financial transparancy
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  Cooperation model dimensionsWho defines the service to be developed/ delivered? Who receives the services? Who supplies the services? Who pays for them? Who monitors and formally accepts upon delivery - is responsible for quality assurance?
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  Some governance modelsGovernment agency Delegated responsibility Self-organisation Mixed model
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  Government agency Thesector-level governance mandate is vested in a Government agency, possibly (a Department of) the Ministry of Education. The main advantages of this option are its proximity to strategy development, decision making and budgeting process; and the fact that financing and staffing is in the same hand. Potential pitfalls are a focus on control instead of innovation, and aloofness from the real problems ‘on the ground’ (bureaucracy).
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  Delegated responsibility Themandate for sector-level ICT issues is vested in an independent body. This body will most likely be financed by Government, and its Board may comprise representatives from both Government and the universities. The major advantage of this option is the independent – and thus in theory impartial – position which allows it to balance the interests of both the Government and of the HEIs. The main pitfall here is the tendency of such agencies to become inward looking and bureaucratic, and lose sight of their service function.
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  Self-organisation In thisoption the HEIs self-organise the ICT governance structure at national level. The major advantage of this option is its proximity to, and understanding of, the real problems ‘on the ground’. Potential problems are a) financing this structure, and related to this b) the differences in ICT maturity between the HEIs; and c) the lack of ICT staff to function at sector level while they are already spread thin in their own HEI.
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  Options for self-organisationin the HE Proclamation Article 58, sections 1-10 (Forum of public institutions) Article 88, sections 7, 9, 11, and 12 (Powers and duties of the Ministry) Article 93, sections 1 and 2 (Outsourcing of services )
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  Yesterday’s priority areasSetting up a sector-level Governance infrastructure Joint capacity building, developing the knowledge infrastructure Internet services & technical platform coordination Applications infrastructure, standards & joint development Sharing information, experiences & expertise Fund raising & supporting the new universities Interconnectivity to share resources for learning and teaching
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  Dilemma Disparity betweenthe old and the new universities. Any proposal on a structure for sector-level coordination should therefore address: How the old universities can benefit from cooperation among themselves How the new universities can benefit from cooperation among themselves How the old and new universities together can benefit from cooperation
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  Today’s assignment Proposea governance structure that will facilitate sustainable sector-level cooperation in ICT, meeting the needs of a), b) and c) above. Indicate specific activities from the seven priority areas that are especially relevant for: Cooperation between the old universities Cooperation between the new universities Cooperation between the old universities and the new universities Report in the plenary meeting, preferably through a PowerPoint presentation