oxford brookes university

About
OxfordBrookes University is a premier learning and teaching institution with an outstanding research record. The University can trace its history back as far as 1865 with the foundation of the Oxford School of Art, which over the centuries merged and grew to become today's university. It is the only UK modern university to have achieved 24 subjects rated as excellent for teaching.

Challenge
Over the last few years there has been a sharp growth in student numbers with the higher education sector expanding greatly. This has resulted in competition for funding between universities hotting up.

At the same time, some commentators are predicting an increase in costs for the higher education sector over and above inflation, while across the sector as a whole the capital base is increasingly funded by grants and borrowings, rather than surpluses, with the result that liquidity is reducing and debt rising.

Against this background, Universities are finding that they can no longer afford to allow duplication and inefficiency in their business processes as they seek to reduce costs at all levels. As funding gets more difficult to obtain, Universities must improve the efficiency and effectiveness of all their organisation processes thereby reducing their cost base, the trick being to 'decouple' costs from growth - growth in student numbers cannot always result in a corresponding growth in costs.

Solution
One way to achieve this is through the introduction of a Business Process Review. This involves examination of the flow of information through a process and identifying how that process can be improved and what options are available for technology to assist in the process. The more detailed the review, the more detailed the specification for improvement.

In 2001, Oxford Brookes University appointed NCC Group, the UK's leading independent provider of IT assurance, security and advice, to develop an Information Processes and Systems Strategy (IPSS). As the name of the project suggests, its focus was to understand and improve business processes rather than being purely technology led.

Working with all levels of faculty and staff throughout the University, NCC Group initially developed high level process models and identified the strengths and weaknesses of the business processes and the opportunities for process improvement. This was followed by a defined 'end game' in terms of the processes and systems that need to be in place to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

Personnel at all levels were involved including a high-level Steering group involving both Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Senior Academics and Administrative Directors. A three-year implementation programme was introduced to bring about improvement in all aspects of university operations, with defined management processes to see the programme through.

Result
The IPSS gave Oxford Brookes a vision with a ‘road map for change’ to guide the University through the whole process.

Involving and consulting all interested parties at an early stage and throughout the review, meant that there was an environment for change with real-buy-in from the University decision-makers.

The University also obtained significant capital funding for the implementation phase from the Higher Education Funding Council on the back of NCC Group’s activity, in particular by developing such a robust and ambitious programme.

John Redeyoff, Director of Consultancy at NCC Group commented: " We continue to be retained as Trusted Advisors to the programme and, in one project, we are taking the lead in carrying out more detailed process modelling, system procurement and implementation. We have also been assisting the University in the planning and implementation of the introduction of Semesters - a project that has a profound impact upon IT systems and processes alike."

Linda Challis, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Brookes concluded: "We chose to work with NCC Group because we wanted a consultancy that would understand and improve our business practices overall and not just our technical processes. The solutions recommended by NCC Group are workable and achievable. The result is that we are expecting to see the benefits in terms of improved efficiency and effectiveness in our day to day operations."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NCC Group is a leading global provider of independent IT assurance, security and consultancy services. As a trusted advisor, we help over 15,000 public, private and not for profit sector organisations, including 94 of the FTSE 100, to make the most efficient use of information and technology and to manage the associated risks.

Quote

"We chose to work with NCC Group because we wanted a consultancy that would understand and improve our business practices overall and not just our technical processes. The solutions recommended by NCC Group are workable and achievable. The result is that we are expecting to see the benefits in terms of improved efficiency and effectiveness in our day to day operations."

Linda Challis, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Brookes 

Challenge

Oxford Brookes University wanted to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of all its organisation processes and reduce its cost base

Solution

Oxford Brookes University appointed NCC Group, the UK's leading independent provider of IT assurance, security and advice, to develop an Information Processes and Systems Strategy (IPSS)

Result

NCC Group’s IPSS gave Oxford Brookes a vision with a ‘road map for change’ to guide the University through the whole process

The University also obtained significant capital funding for the implementation phase from the Higher Education Funding Council on the back of NCC Group’s activity, in particular by developing such a robust and ambitious programme