Strathmore University will on Friday 11th May 2007 hold a workshop on implementing integrated Information systems in universities and institutions offering tertiary education like colleges and polytechnics at its Madaraka campus. The workshop has attracted private and public institutions of higher learning from all over the East African region. Potential funding partners have also been invited.

During the workshop, the university will share its experience in successfully implementing an Academic Management System (AMS), a Library Management System (LMS) and e-Learning Management System (LMS or e-learning). It is also in the final stages of implementing a Financial Management System (FMS).

These systems make up an integrated solution where data is exchanged and shared as per defined specifications, thus avoiding data entry duplication. And with exception of AMS, the systems are open source. The source code is freely available to implementing institutions.

The functionality of these systems is equivalent, if not superior to commercially available applications. The university has built both functional and technical capacity to customize, deploy and maintain these systems. It has also forged international relationships to ensure maximum support where required. Further, Strathmore is ready to transfer knowledge and skills to the staff of implementing institutions to ensure a smooth implementation and provide adequate maintenance and support where required.

Also at the workshop will be Kathleen McNeely (Executive Director of Financial Management Services at Indiana University) and John Robinson (Chairman and Founder of the rSmart Group). Indiana University and rSmart are founding partners of the Kuali Project (www.kuali.org) and they will present the Kuali Financial System – an open source Financial Management System developed by Universities for Universities.

Strathmore University strives to be an entrepreneurial university. The Open Source integrated IT systems it has implemented are an example of the university coming up with innovative and cost-effective solutions to local problems.

The systems solve the major problems associated with implementing IT systems like high initial costs, recurring license fees, and systems support costs. The university has also developed local system support capabilities.