Supporting Oxford's digital transformation

The Competency Centre's have produced their first annual review taking a look at the successes and achievements during their first year of operation.

The three dedicated centres, focusing on Automation, Cybersecurity, and Cloud Computing, have successfully engaged with more than 35 departments, units, and colleges to enhance digital capabilities, including cyber security and streamline processes across the university. Averaging at around two incoming request per day during the first six months of operation, with each from a department, unit or project, it's fair to say that colleagues are interested in understanding the possibilities of digital tools and developing their digital abilities. 

Over 1000 Colleagues have engaged with the centres in a variety of ways. Inviting Competency Centre staff to attend communities of practices, staff days, university wide events, each of these appearances strengthens the opportunity for University-wide connection.  

Working to foster a culture of self-sufficiency the centres have been a focusing on training, sharing best practise across the University, identifying and providing the right tools, as well as collaborating with already established groups. The focus on self-sufficiency will continue to be central to the work of the centres, with more training opportunities for staff in the coming year. Each centre is also creating resource banks and case studies, to improve visibility on what can be achieved by working in partnership with technology and the competency centre teams. 

I'm so glad the Workflow and Automation Competency Centre exists within the University; we wouldn't have been able to implement this departmental efficiency saving otherwise  

- Katherine Tomlinson at Oxford Internet Institute

One of the key insights identified in the report, is that the siloed ways of working that take place at Oxford is limiting the ability of individual staff who excel at using automation software, cloud computing, or implementing good, practical cybersecurity to share their expertise. Each of the centres are working to alleviate this by creating case studies and 

There will be three new centres opening in 2024: 

• Immersive Technology Competency Centre that will provide staff and students with the tools and training needed to use virtual and augmented reality in teaching and learning. 
• Online Course Delivery Competency Centre, in partnership with the Department of Continuing Education and the Centre for Teaching and Learning, will support the creation and delivery of taught online courses. This centre will be headed by a new Head of Online Courses who will start in January 2024.
• Digital Experience Competency Centre will focus on supporting colleagues to improve the user experience of digital platforms and systems. A new Head of User experience will be joining the Competency Centre team in February 2024

You can read the full report here.