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The new Student Information System (SIS) project is well underway, with procurement due to be completed by summer 2022. This is an important first step in our journey towards launching our new system in autumn 2024.

Modernising our SIS will help drive the future success of the University as part of our Sussex 2025 Strategic Framework, and we are working to find the right supplier to deliver the cloud-based, tried-and-tested system that we need. In the meantime, here’s an update on why the project is so vital – and our next steps in the journey.

Our core student record

The SIS (or ‘student records system’ as it’s currently known at Sussex) provides a core system of record across the student lifecycle. It supports a range of different processes, from admissions and registration to grades, examination and much more. The SIS also enables compliance with regulations and legislation, and the data within the system is used in our decision making. Applicants, students and staff members across the University use the SIS regularly and it plays a key role in our delivery of services to students.

The need for a new system

For the past 20 years, the University has been operating a SIS that has progressively become less fit-for-purpose and more challenging to manage and maintain.

Introducing a new SIS will:

• Safeguard our University with a more robust system and enhanced data protection. It will offer an accurate and secure system on one single platform, with improved reporting to support data-driven decision making.
• Enable our ‘Build on Strengths’ strategy with an infrastructure which will allow us to deliver an outstanding student and staff experience.
• Enable our ‘Learn to Transform’ strategy with a flexible system that can be adapted to meet our needs as the University grows and develops.

Much of the improvement will be behind the scenes of the system, building a strong framework for future development.

Our progress so far and next steps

The project team, formed of Sussex colleagues and our partners Deloitte, have been working closely with staff from across the University to define our requirements through a number of workshops. We are determined to deliver the solution that the University and our people need, using project management best practice to support the process.

We will assess a shortlist of suppliers in the coming months. Alongside this, a full business case will be submitted to Council in summer 2022 where we expect to gain formal approval to go ahead with implementation.

Professor Kate O’Riordan, Dean of the School of Media, Arts and Humanities, has executive responsibility for the programme. She said: “With procurement underway, we are making positive progress towards finding the right system to help us transform the experience of staff and students.

“We are working to an ambitious timeline but remain committed to making sure we find the right partner to help us deliver this critically important investment in the future of our University."

We will keep you informed about progress with updates in the coming months. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please do contact the project team at: sis@sussex.ac.uk.