The ICT Development and Support Unit (ICTDSU) of SMU was established in September 2010 with the objectives of building state-of-the-art ICT infrastructure and mainstreaming the ICT-based services in the teaching and learning, research, consultancy and administrative activities of the University. The Unit also aims at ensuring sustainable use of the technology by providing hardware, software, and network maintenance services. At SMU, ICT is viewed not only as a support service but also as a driving force in providing  quality  education. 

The Unit has three major sub-units: Network and System Admin, Hardware and Network Maintenance, and Systems and Computing Services. The three subunits are organized at the University level to provide support services to both the Undergraduate and Graduate studies. There are also computer laboratories that provide services to students at both the Undergraduate Campus and the School of Graduate Studies.

The network and system admin sub-unit

This unit provides the following major network and system related services:

  • managing and configuring Web servers that provide access to various web-based applications including Registrar, Human Resource, KOHA Library System, GLPI, and LMS;
  • managing contents; 
  • managing and configuring DHCP server and Office 365;
  • securing the University’s system from external threat through managing and configuring ISA server;
  • managing, configuring and establishing new LAN connection;
  • maintaining LAN connection failure;
  • managing wireless connection; 
  • managing gateway to the internet; 
  • increasing the publicity of the website of the University using search engine optimization;
  • upgrading, monitoring and maintaining the database management systems (DBMSs); 
  • establishing security and access control procedures; and
  • Performing ongoing administrative functions and ensuring that business continuity and disaster recovery plans are in place for the Institution’s databases.

The Hardware and Network Maintenance sub-unit

This unit provides different services to offices and computer labs, including installing operating system; configuring required software; upgrading hardware; taking backup; handling virus problems and recovery issues; rearranging computer resources; basic maintenance of hardware, application and system software; and monitoring lab resources.

The Systems and Computing Services sub-unit is responsible for:

  • studying the existing manual system of the University and developing a software that improves the University’s services;
  • customizing open source software; 
  • creating and managing Learning Management Systems for UG, SGS and CODL;
  • assessing software needs, conducting requirement analysis, proposing system development and following up the development and deployment of the system;
  • managing the acquisition and disposal of computing resources;
  • assessing the service quality of the ICTDSU and introducing improvements;
  • guiding consultancy and outreach services of ICTDS unit; and 
  • Identifying basic ICT training needs of the staff of the University. 

Hardware and Network Maintenance sub-unit

The Hardware and Networking sub-unit is responsible for identification and troubleshooting of software, hardware and network-related issues. These include:

  • undertaking installation, maintenance and troubleshooting of microcomputers, peripheral equipment, data communications, Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN);
  • examining the requirements of the complex network design and handling configuration and installation of workstations and operating systems of providers like Windows, Macintosh, etc;
  • carrying out the administration of primary network systems on different network servers; and
  • Installing, troubleshooting and managing a huge variety of local area network equipment and software.

By efficiently carrying out the above-mentioned duties and responsibilities, hardware and networking sub-unit, certainly, adds value to the University.

Address:

Undergraduate Campus

Tel: ICTDSU +251 11 553 8024

E-Mail: ictunit@smuc.edu.et

P.O. Box: 1211/18490    

Addis Ababa

Ethiopia