Osaka and Tokyo, July 29, 2009
Kansai University and Fujitsu today announced a campus-wide upgrade to the university's IT infrastructure system of which Fujitsu helped deploy from its system design stage. The new Campus-wide Total IT System integrates system infrastructure components, such as network and authentication functions, enables unified management of data and information and aims to link the processes between different systems. In addition, while offering a large-scale shared information platform designed for 350,000 stakeholders, including students, guardians, and alumni, the new system enables enrollment management(1) and improves service levels by consolidating and unifying the various types of information found within the university.
In recent years, Japan's institutions of higher education have been faced with the need to change due to lower birth rates, the globalization of education, the diversification of educational needs, and the advancement of academic research. Higher educational institutions must articulate a clear vision that differentiates them from other institutions and provide the appropriate courses, curriculum, facilities and educational approach that students find appealing. In addition, they must manage their operations efficiently, as well as improve the quality of education, and enhance the services and educational research capabilities that students have come to expect. To meet these challenges, the use of IT has a very important role in reinforcing the institution's strengths and positioning its strategies to thrive and survive into the future.
Against this backdrop, and as part of the activities it has planned to mark the university's 120th anniversary, Kansai University has decided to position itself as "the university that offers a leading IT edge." To create a next-generation IT infrastructure that will meet its needs for the foreseeable future, the university has built a new open-standard, Campus-wide Total IT System to replace its former host computer system. Operation of the new system has already started. From the design phase through to its planning and deployment, Fujitsu has provided support in constructing the new Campus-wide Total IT System.
Building on its highly appraised track record of system support provided for Kansai University, Fujitsu has constructed four subsystems for Kansai University's Campus-wide Total IT System including the integrated authentication system which provides enhanced security and convenience, the network system which is the platform for the entire system, the academic record system which enables management of data including student information which is indispensable to university operations, and the library system.
System Overview
1. Integrated Authentication System
The cornerstone of the Campus-wide Total IT System is its integrated authentication system. This high-security platform allows users to access multiple computer systems with a single login, combining security with convenience. It utilizes a browser-based, single-authentication WebSSO system(2) , an ID Management System(3) to administer user IDs and access privileges, and a dynamically-generated, one-time password(4) authentication process. In addition, the system employs the highly reliable SPARC Enterprise Unix server at its core. Its ID Management System running on Solaris™ has been constructed to support up to 350,000 user registrations.
2. Academic Information System
The Academic Information System manages key academic records of students and alumni, including registrar and transcript records. Students can register for classes and ensure they are meeting the school's credit requirements online. The system is based on Fujitsu's Campusmate-J V2 academic administration software for universities.
3. Library System
The Library System, employing Fujitsu's iLiswave-J software for university libraries, provides a variety of online services allowing users to search and reserve titles from among the university's catalog of 2 million books. The platform works in coordination with Fujitsu's Integrated Authentication System, allowing for seamless web service capability.