What are the faculty’s digitalization objectives, and what are your current challenges?
“A number of University departments are definitely on the cutting edge regarding the use of digital technologies in their research work. Working with artificial intelligence, robotics and other technologies naturally involves particular requirements around data processing and data provision. In many cases the departments address these specific requirements on their own, and sometimes there is no other way. The rule still applies however that central University services via uniform systems make cross-departmental working much easier, also simplifying data sharing.
Digitalization management has responsibility in many areas ranging from teaching and learning to research and administration—and the digitalization requirements vary in each area. A large number of administrative digitalization projects are underway, most of which are joint projects with the Digitalization of Administrative Processes program (PDAP). The e-files projects are a top priority in this regard, which will streamline internal administrative processes and afford students greater convenience. Rather than having to make multiple requests, students will enjoy an efficient, uniform process.”
Is there anything you would like to change at the Faculty?
“Many established processes are in place that have worked well over the years. But there’s one particular change I’m in favor of: I would like to see research IT separated from basic or “administrative” IT. The two areas often get mixed together, which is not ideal. Researchers should be able to concentrate on their actual work without having to constantly deal with IT problems and administrative IT tasks. Greater separation would mean greater efficiency, so researchers can better focus on their research instead of getting bogged down in IT and administrative issues.”
Tell us about interfacing with central IT structures.
“Interfacing with central IT structures is often challenging because there the faculties are so heterogeneous. Needs and requirements for central processes and systems vary considerably. Which is good to an extent, but it can make efforts to devise and roll out uniform systems and solutions more difficult in some cases.
But we have good communication with the central units, so working with them is always very constructive and a positive experience. Processes are constantly being improved and there are continual efforts to implement further structural improvements for collaborative working. Portfolio management is an example of this, recently formed to ensure better management of PDaP projects, in concert with individual actors. Administrative projects are evaluated and prioritized as part of portfolio management, and project synergies are identified. The faculty digitalization managers have a seat on the program committees of faculty portfolio management, which has facilitated the excellent cooperation we have enjoyed with the PDaP thus far. It’s fun and fulfilling, working together to overcome challenges and achieve results that everyone will ultimately benefit from. Pulling together like this is essential if we are to come up with the best possible solutions, and with no compromises.”
One digital strategy objective: Infrastructure for Research, Teaching and Services
The University of Bonn’s Digital Strategy sets out the measures and structures required for its digital transformation. Digitalization management within the faculties is an important part of that continuing strategic process and has been sub-divided into seven thematic sets of objectives.
The slogan for the fourth strategic objectiv2e is “We will continue to develop our secure and future-proof IT infrastructure.” The slogan is above all relevant to Marvin, our new supercomputer which will shortly celebrate its first anniversary with a competition3, and has to do as well with the provision of digital tools that facilitate cooperation (e.g. the rollout of Atlassian tools such as Confluence4 across the University) or the numerous digitalized administrative processes5.
