The Unisa Portfolio of Strategy, Risk and Advisory Services (SRAS), through the Department of Institutional Intelligence (DII), has developed the ODeL Business Intelligence (BI) and Analytics Project as part of its institutional mandate and its efforts to implement the next generation of BI and analytics at Unisa. DII leads the implementation in collaboration with the institution's Department of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the Bureau of Market Research.

Prof Khehla Ndlovu

The initiative is aligned to support the university's open distance e-learning (ODeL) programme, considering the Unisa Strategy 2030, which acknowledges that technological advances have implications for an open distance learning (ODL) or ODeL institution in taking advantage of new information technology and communication service platforms. "It challenges the university to utilise these for greater efficiency, transparency and effectiveness in its responses and services," says Prof Khehla Ndlovu, Unisa's Vice Principal of SRAS.

The SRAS successfully launched Uni-telligence, the Unisa BI and Analytics Platform, in January 2022. A comprehensive change management plan programme has been developed to introduce it in each institution's portfolio. The introduction will include information sessions through online and in-contact meetings, offering comprehensive training with examples closely related to the covered portfolios. Furthermore, a change management plan will be presented to communicate the next steps and what users may look forward to in the future.

Ndlovu explains: "At the centre of the Unisa Vision 2030 is the establishment of fully blended learning and digital capabilities to enable comprehensive open distance e-learning (CODeL) model within the institution. In the future, Unisa will be a predominantly open digital and virtual institution that provides blended and adaptive learning; whilst enhancing the student learning experience."

"The institution-wide analytics and reporting is one of the critical building blocks for CODeL and will contribute towards enabling a digital workplace, drive the development of learning analytics to enable adaptive learning, and build the foundation for intelligent operations across Unisa's function towards envisaged smart and virtual campus." He continues: "Through the Uni-telligence platform, Unisa is implanting a non-trivial enterprise data management function to integrate and close the gap between institutional operations and monitoring operations. Therefore, Uni-telligence is a vehicle leveraged to drive the data and analytics components of Unisa's digital transformation programme."

For Ndlovu, timely, managed and shared wide access to accurate data is essential to improving the quality and efficiency of enterprise decision-making. He remarks that for Unisa, the top four highlights that signify the importance of better business intelligence and analytics practice are: integrated data service, exploiting existing reporting and analytics investments, embracing diversity in reporting technologies, and a single point of entry for all analytics and reporting.

Mathabo Nakene

Unisa's Vice-Principal of ICT and Chief Information Officer, Mathabo Nakene, says that Uni-telligence is developed in an iterative and phased approach. The first phase was focused on the Student Walk Analytics, completed in 2021 and officially launched on 28 January 2022 through an online webinar attended by more than 100 internal and external stakeholders. Its purpose was to present quality, assured and up-to-date analytical information covering all student applications, registration, teaching and learning, assessment, and graduation processes. In addition, it enables Unisa academics and management to make informed decisions on aspects such as enrolment planning.

Nakene adds: "The second phase covers analytics for Unisa operations such as in Human Resources and Finance Departments, and was approved by the ICT Steering Committee for initiation and implementation in April 2022." She continues: "Additional information will be shared regarding the second phase. The phase is geared to introduce a new era of information-based business planning, execution, and decision making in Unisa."

Letlhogonolo Marumolwa

According to Letlhogonolo Marumolwa, Director of Unisa Business Intelligence Directorate, digital transformation is one of the preferred innovative routes toward improving various organisation services and processing. "It assists the university to effectively conduct teaching and learning, research, and engaged scholarship." He continues: "The Uni-telligence framework is enabled through the acquisition of data from various platforms and systems consolidated into one platform. It converts various institutional processes into data to bridge the physical activities into digital content that can be analysed to produce insights."

Marumolwa asserts that Uni-telligence contributes to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) development at Unisa through data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning capabilities. "Going forward, Uni-telligence will also be ideal for supporting various future 4IR initiatives requiring access to a comprehensive institutional data platform," he remarks.

Dr Matseliso Molapo

In addition, Dr Matseliso Molapo, Executive Director of Unisa Department of Institutional Intelligence, notes: "Uni-telligence is also intended to provide sustained support, benefits and delivery on, among others, the improvement of governance and decision support structures of the university, drive the attainment of the Annual Performance Plan objectives, prompt delivery of services and productivity, drive data culture, self-service analytics and self-service data analysis, easy access to information products, and less duplication of effort as Uni-telligence serves as one source of truth or information."

Molapo affirms that this project will impact various internal and external stakeholders. She says: "To ensure that all the project stakeholders are informed of its progress and to take part in it where appropriate, we continuously define and refine a change management plan." She concludes: "All Unisa regions will be covered as part of the Registrar's portfolio rollout and subsequent activities, including further training and information sessions that will be executed. In future, physical road shows beyond online engagements to regions outside South Africa will be considered based on the outcome and impact of the current approach."

The platform is accessible online through eConnect and other means to members of staff in the institution. Whilst the goal is to make data accessible, the exercise is implemented through careful consideration, and some data may be limited to specific and applicable users.

For an introduction to and overview of Uni-telligence, click here.

* By Nancy Legodi, Acting Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement