Joseph Aninias
MIDDLE EAST if this doesn ’ t run on mobile , tablet or PC , if I can ’ t present the information well on the phone or the user ’ s preferred device , it ’ s not a good investment . We have all these different types of platforms so you need to put this into a seamless interface , which is also a challenge – with cost being a significant factor .”
In meeting these various challenges , Aninias maintains student centricity is key . “ When we implement any new project , we do so with input from the students . We have a student council which is part of the decision making . This strong representation from the student side is a critical strategy for ADU because every organisation claims to put students first , but some do not really involve them in the decision making .”
A significant focus for the IMT depa- rtment is to bring all student information together . “ Information System management is critical – especially in educational institutions , a significant component of the operation is managing the information of the student : prospective students , current students , alumni , classrooms etc . Everything that runs under the university processes , and revolves around student life . “ You have to consider the implication of the older , manual form in digital format ,” he continues , and indeed moving from various legacy systems to a fully digital environment has been a challenge which involves flexibility . “ Paperless , for example , was in discussion for ages – but how can you move to paperless if a significant number of users need
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EXECUTIVE PROFILE
Joseph Aninias
Joseph Aninias is Director of IMTS at Abu Dhabi University , where he has worked since February 2017 . Aninias previously worked as Manager of IT at University of Wollongong , an Australian University , in Dubai since 2001 . He holds an MBA from the University of Wollongong and previously attended Far Eastern University , where he studied Computer Engineering and IT .
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