Strategic Plan for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Infrastructure in Architectural Education

Abstract

Information technology is today one of the most critical tools in higher education. New ways to deliver instruction are now available, with the resulting ability to reach students in many ways other than the traditional classroom setting. Changes in research tools and methodologies in many disciplines and professions have resulted from the spread of information technology throughout the disciplines. But information technology, though critical, is still just a tool. It relies on people for its effective utilization, whether they are those who use these tools on a daily basis, those who instruct others how to use them, those who create or design new uses for these tools in teaching and research, or those that ensure they are maintained in good repair. To meet the current trend in education, therefore, schools of Architecture must implement an effective strategic plan for the use of information technology in research and academic computing, teaching and learning, and administrative support. The paper highlights on the guiding principles (strategic plan) required for an effective information technology infrastructure which include Sound Fiscal Planning; Access to Network Resources; Institutional Commitment; Support for Student Computing; Digital Libraries and the Scholarly Record; Security, Privacy, and Intellectual Property