Update from UMT SG Chair
Last updated 7th November 2023
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to tell you of progress in our ambition for a people-centred and technology enabled transformation of our operations and services. Back in June, you heard from our President, Professor Orla Feely, of major University developments including the POST programme. This includes prioritising the transformation of Finance Services (FinPOST) and the introduction of a new University Customer Relationship Management system (University CRM) along with a number of other community-driven projects targeting improvements in specific services and operations.
We are changing the University’s approach to how we provide and manage services and are at the start of this process of improvement. By focusing on what our users need, POST aims to transform the supports and services used by Faculty, Staff and Students and to improve the way we operate, allowing more effective use of information and ultimately freeing up valuable time.
Transforming how we deliver and experience services in a large complex University takes time, effort and joined up thinking. POST, working in partnership with our colleagues in IT Services and through dedicated project teams, is supporting multiple projects across the University. By bringing these projects together under one over-arching programme, we are ensuring consistency in how benefits and outcomes are delivered, and in how change is planned and experienced.
Programme Activity - What’s underway?
- FinPOST - Transforming Finance in UCD - This is a key programme of the UCD Finance Office. Significant community engagement has taken place to date, providing the programme team with a detailed understanding of what improvements are needed as well as substantial input into the selection of Workday as the preferred supplier of our new Finance System.
- University CRM - This project involving multiple stakeholders is transforming how we recruit students onto UCD programmes by implementing Salesforce as a new CRM. The first phase of implementation (currently in scoping and design) covers the journey that a prospective student goes through, from marketing, through recruitment activities and on to applying and being admitted into UCD. It is envisaged that subsequent phases of this project will include University Partnerships and Alumni as well as Research & Innovation.
- Community Led Transformation Projects - Earlier this year, we asked you, the users and providers of services, to identify transformation opportunities in your School/College or Unit through the Transformation Planning Process (TPP). I would like to thank each one of you for your input. After careful review and prioritisation, these submissions have resulted in a number of new projects within the POST programme of work for 2023/24. The objectives of these projects include; enhancing the development opportunities available for research support staff; freeing up academic time associated with key research service areas such as Grant Mobilisation, Funding Applications and Post-Award Support; and identifying opportunities to better serve the diverse needs of our students through collaboration with various teams and units including Access & Lifelong Learning, China Joint Colleges, the Human Capital Initiative and UCD Registry.
In addition to the above, these submissions helped shape the annual IT programme.
To learn more about what is happening, the timeline for delivery and how it benefits you click HERE. If you have a question or want to get involved speak to a POST Service Lead or any member of the programme team at ucdpostpmo@ucd.ie .
Kind regards,
Tristan Aitken
Chair of UMT Service Group