The Computer Services Unit (CSU) is the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) unit of the National University of Lesotho (NUL). It is answerable to the Office of the Pro-Vice Chancellor. The CSU manages and operates the university's ICT infrastructure such as computers & related software, data networks, NUL PABX system and telecommunications links. It also assists the Development and Planning Office (DPO) and the ICT Steering Committee (ICTSC) in ICT policy and planning initiatives, standardisation and acquisition of ICT hardware and software.
Contact us:
Helpdesk: Ext: 3725/6
Head CSU: (+266) 2221 3719 (Ext: 3719)
CSU Sections and Services
1. Helpdesk Section and Services
The Helpdesk Section of the CSU is responsible for first line of support to the end users of ICT services provided by the CSU to the entire NUL Community both academic and administrative units, which include acquisition and distribution of hardware supported by the university, acquisition of software and distribution of licensed software supported by the university, troubleshooting of problems encountered by the end users, end user training on the use of the supported computer hardware and software, with the modus operandi being that the CSU only ensures that all the supported software is properly installed but does not train end users on the use of standard application packages but only on the use of administrative/information systems (software), provision of configuration services e.g. Network configuration including network printing, Internet access configuration, etc., and keeping inventory of computer equipment, software and licensing requirements, and IP addresses assigned to the PC's on the individuals' workstations. The supported hardware and software should adhere to the University standards as recommended by the CSU and approved by the ICT Steering Committee.
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2. Administrative Section and Services
The main responsibilities of the Administration Section of the Computer Services is record keeping for the CSU, processing of requisitions, orders, invoices and all paperwork for the CSU, advise on office equipment procurement and maintenance, personnel administration of the Unit, general administration of the Unit, overall planning, coordination of activities within the unit, overall control and direction of the Unit and maintaining an organisational structure directed towards efficient and effective functioning of the Unit, provision of advice to both the University Management and the end users on ICT related issues, following external ICT developments, identifies potential benefits and bottlenecks on new ICT related initiatives for institutional-wide development.
Formulation, monitoring and review of strategies, policies and procedures as required, ensuring that all tasks undertaken in ICT are geared towards continually supporting the university's core business and administration.
This section is also responsible for preparations of the unit's annual and long-term budgets in accordance with the unit's plans and ensure that the unit operates within its budget allocations, ensures that all the services afforded by NUL's systems are accessible to both academic and administrative staff over a network environment where possible, keeps regular contacts with other educational institutions and suppliers in the region on the use of ICT, provides visionary leadership for developing, managing and advancing NUL's Information Technology Services and Higher Education Computer Network, including long-term planning.
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3. Network Section and Services
3.1. Provision of Telecommunications Infrastructure and Related Services
Acquisition of PABX systems and reticulation of telephone networks, provision of telephone sets, provision of telephone lines, ensuring that the PABX system is available virtually all the time to the university community and the corporate organisations that it interacts with, and introduces new services relating to the telecommunication.
3.2. Provision of data network infrastructure and Related Services
Provision of the Internet and network services, which include ensuring continued availability of the Internet, continued availability of the email system and ensuring that the network infrastructure is expanded to where it's required the existing network infrastructure is well maintained. and provision of 2nd level support to the users on network related problems.
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4. Information Systems Section and Services
The Information Section of the CSU is, inter alia, responsible for determination of business processes and identification of suitable systems that will implement the business processes, provision of Information systems for purposes of improved administration, training of end-users on information systems employed by NUL, in addition to that provided by the supplier of the system, customisation of any purchased system to ensure that it meets an acceptable percentage of the university needs, the information systems run on computer systems, which require proper administration in order to ensure that they are available almost all the time. It is the Information Systems Section that takes care of the administration of these systems, serves as link between the Information Systems suppliers and the end users, and provision of 2nd level support to the users on information systems services.
This section also ensures that at the end of each academic year results of students are published over the web through the ITS student iEnabler and through two mobile network operators, Econet Telecom Lesotho (previously called Econet Ezi-cell Lesotho) and Vodacom Lesotho (VCL). In the near future this section of the CSU will also employ the ITS Student iEnabler to prospective students to submit their applications over the web.
