Strategic Plan 2017 - 2018 “ Collaboration - The key to Development and Success“ HEAnet STRATEGIC PLAN 2017 - 2018 A National Education Network for Shared ICT Services National Network HEAnet provides high speed, resilient Internet connectivity and associated ICT services to education and research organisations throughout Ireland: www.heanet.ie/the-network Global Connectivity HEAnet also provides its clients with international connectivity via GÉANT - the pan-European network; facilitating research collaboration around the world: www.geant.org HE and Research Services HEAnet provides an extensive portfolio of shared services; delivering economies of scale and more cost-effective ways of working for the education and research community: www.heanet.ie/services Schools HEAnet provides Internet connectivity and associated services to all primary and post-primary schools in Ireland: www.heanet.ie/schools EduCampus EduCampus Services, a subsidiary of HEAnet, provides MIS shared services to the higher education sector: www.educampus.ie COLLABORATION - THE KEY TO DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS Contents Chairman’s Foreword 3 Message from the Chief Executive 5 HEAnet’s Mission 6 HEAnet’s Guiding Principles 6 HEAnet’s Vision 7 About HEAnet 9 The Environment within which HEAnet Operates 11 Process of Strategy Development 12 Introduction to our Updated Strategy 13 HEAnet’s Strategic Goals and Targets 14 - 23 HEAnet Client List 24 1 HEAnet STRATEGIC PLAN 2017 - 2018 2 COLLABORATION - THE KEY TO DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS Chairman’s Foreword “The shared services and support HEAnet provide for the education and research sector ensure that its clients, their students and staff have a ‘fit for purpose’ network in place to serve their needs” HEAnet shared services underpin academic education and research activity in Ireland, with approximately one million users relying on the network each day for their learning and research needs. The continued growth and development of the organisation is a great asset to the education and research sector in Ireland. The shared services and support it provides for the sector ensure that its clients, their students and staff have a ‘fit for purpose’ network in place to serve their needs. This updated strategy and the delivery of the strategic goals and targets will ensure that HEAnet remains relevant, responsive, effective, innovative and a key enabler for the education and research sector. Furthermore, its focus on providing the best quality support systems and value for money will ensure that it continues to be an exemplar for the delivery of shared services for the sector. I would like, on behalf of the Board, to express our gratitude to the many stakeholders who so generously gave of their time and energy in contributing to the development of the updated strategy. I would also like to acknowledge the work of the members of the Board, the Chief Executive and staff of HEAnet. This combined effort and commitment ensures that we continue to achieve our goal of providing a vital piece of the underpinning infrastructure for education and research in Ireland. Jim Fennell, Chairman, Board of HEAnet 3 HEAnet STRATEGIC PLAN 2017 - 2018 4 COLLABORATION - THE KEY TO DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS Message from the Chief Executive “Our ambition remains clear - we intend to leverage our world class network to enhance our contribution as a valuable resource for our clients in the years to come” Against a backdrop of ever-accelerating change Our staff’s commitment, enthusiasm and expertise within the higher education sector, sweeping has contributed to the development of a world transformation in the ICT environment and a new class network, supporting education and research economic order, HEAnet has responded by updating in Ireland and becoming a trusted partner for our its organisation strategy, “Collaboration - The Key to clients. Our ambition remains clear – we intend to Development and Success” covering an additional leverage our world class network to enhance our two years, 2017 - 2018. contribution as a valuable resource for our clients in The contribution by many of our clients, colleagues the years to come. and Board members has given this updated strategy Today, HEAnet stands as a valued provider of a focus and vision that will enable HEAnet to deliver ICT shared services across all levels of the Irish further value and support for our clients. education and research sector, serving client needs This is particularly important in the face of reduced in a trusted, collaborative, delivery oriented and resources and the emergence of radical new cost-effective manner. solutions for ICT service delivery. John Boland, We have taken on board the requirements of our Chief Executive, HEAnet stakeholders and their changing service delivery expectations and are very conscious of the role that all of us within the organisation must play in delivering upon these goals. This updated strategy has at its heart a shared vision and a set of strategic goals and targets which will enable us to continually assist our clients in meeting their business challenges. One of our key challenges is identifying common solutions to our clients’ differing needs across the spectrum of cloud based services. This can only be successfully achieved through real partnership and collaboration between HEAnet and its clients. This collaboration is critical for us in delivering on our mission while playing a key role in the education and research sector. 5 HEAnet STRATEGIC PLAN 2017 - 2018 HEAnet’s Mission HEAnet’s Vision To realise Ireland’s education and research goals in partnership with our clients Collaborative Trusted Partner Provider by providing advanced infrastructure and services Cloud Innovative Competence Solutions HEAnet’s Guiding Principles Shared Identity Services Federation Integrity Service Centric Key Openness & Delivery Brokerage Advisor Transparency Oriented Collaboration & Value for Conduit to Excellent Place Enthusiasm Money Europe To Work Client Focus Innovative 6 COLLABORATION - THE KEY TO DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS HEAnet’s Mission HEAnet’s Vision To realise Ireland’s education and research goals in partnership with our clients Collaborative Trusted Partner Provider by providing advanced infrastructure and services Cloud Innovative Competence Solutions HEAnet’s Guiding Principles Shared Identity Services Federation Integrity Service Centric Key Openness & Delivery Brokerage Advisor Transparency Oriented Collaboration & Value for Conduit to Excellent Place Enthusiasm Money Europe To Work Client Focus Innovative We have developed strategic goals and targets for each element of our vision. Please see pages 14 to 23 for a full development of each one. 7 HEAnet STRATEGIC PLAN 2017 - 2018 HEAnet Network Infrastructure LETTERKENNY SLIGO GENERAL DUNDALK INTERNET CASTLEBAR INTERNATIONAL JISC-UK RESEARCH Blanchardstown Parkwest COMMUNITY GALWAY Citywest ATHLONE CARLOW LIMERICK TIPPERARY WEXFORD GÉANT-EUROPE/ REST OF WORLD WATERFORD TRALEE CORK 8 COLLABORATION - THE KEY TO DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS About HEAnet HEAnet is Ireland’s National Education and Research Network, providing Internet connectivity and shared ICT services to educational and research organisations throughout Ireland. HEAnet’s ICT services underpin academic research HEAnet is guided by the principles of integrity, and education activity in Ireland with just over one openness & transparency and collaboration & million people (210,000 third-level students & staff enthusiasm. It is also client focused, service centric, and 800,000 first and second-level students & staff) delivery oriented and innovative. relying on the HEAnet network each day for their HEAnet is publically funded through the Higher learning and research needs. Education Authority (HEA), the Department of It is HEAnet that connects these Irish based learners Education and Skills (DES), the Department of and researchers to the Internet, on-line educational Communications Energy and Natural Resources resources, and to fellow national educational and (DCENR), the European Commission (EU) and its research networks in Europe, the USA, Asia and the third-level sector client charges. rest of the world. Value for money remains at the heart of the HEAnet The company was established in 1983 by the operation and we are committed to delivering Irish Universities with the support of the Higher ICT services to support the needs of our client Education Authority. Since its incorporation in community. 1997, it has successfully provisioned a robust 100 Gbps capable, high-bandwidth network connecting all Irish Universities, Institutes of Technology, other higher education institutions (HEIs), research organisations, and all primary and post-primary schools across Ireland. 9 HEAnet STRATEGIC PLAN 2017 - 2018 LETTERKENNY SLIGO DUNDALK CASTLEBAR Blanchardstown GALWAY Parkwest Citywest ATHLONE CARLOW LIMERICK TIPPERARY WEXFORD WATERFORD TRALEE CORK 10 COLLABORATION - THE KEY TO DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS The Environment within which HEAnet Operates In devising our updated HEAnet strategy, an understanding of both the changing technological and educational landscape is needed as these developments are driving new educational processes. Cloud computing and the continued proliferation of anytime-anywhere access is having a profound The key challenges facing HEAnet effect on how education services will be delivered include: in the future. New technologies are presenting new • Adapting to the Digital transformation and challenges for education institutions.