ICT Infrastructures and Facilities Standard

for Ethiopian Higher Education

Institutions

Prepared by:

Asrat Mulatu (Ph.D., AASTU)

Beyene Awlachew (B.Sc, ASTU)
Dawit Dejene (M.Sc, HU)
Minyahil Tanashu (M.Sc, BDU)
Shumet Tadesse (M.Sc, UoG)
Wehib Abubeker (M.Sc, HrU)
Yosef Shiferaw (M.Sc, AAU)

March, 2021
Bishoftu
 Acknowledgments

{To be written by MoSHE}

i
 Revision History

№ Revision History Date

1 Approved on March 22, 2021

2 First Revision March 31, 2021

ii
 Preamble

The world is undergoing a dramatic change due to the advent of personalized computers and the
Internet. Now, computers are at the hands of everyone regardless of social class. These computers
which are getting cheaper, smaller and more sophisticated everyday are also interconnected
through various technologies on the go seamlessly. The effect of all of these is evident in all aspects
of our lives. Higher education cannot be different. This is both an opportunity and a challenge for
societies and governments. As long as there is no governing standards and benchmarks to decide
what to have for common use and specialized purposes the myriad of ICT products and solutions
is overwhelmingly difficult to choose from due to their considerable effect on budget,
administration and our environment.

Ethiopian higher education system currently contains around 46 public and more than 260 private
HEIs, among others. Due to the huge capital and operational investments demanded by ICT
infrastructures and facilities a divergent effort in establishing and managing such resources would
have considerable negative effect on the national economy, quality of education and technological
innovations.

In this effect, it has become eminent to establish a national standard that highlights the minimal
ICT infrastructures and facilities Ethiopian HEIs need to have while keeping abreast of the
dynamic nature of ICT products and services. It also helps to have nationally identical and
internationally relevant exposure and experience for graduates going through the higher education
system creating confident and competent citizens.

Hence, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education established this national ICT infrastructures
and facilities standard to be used across all private and public HEIs, TVET institutes and tertiary
education institutions.

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 Table of Contents
Acknowledgments............................................................................................................................ i
Revision History ............................................................................................................................. ii
Preamble ........................................................................................................................................ iii
Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iv
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................ vii
Section One ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1. Background ...................................................................................................................... 1
1.2. Rationale........................................................................................................................... 2
1.3. Scope ................................................................................................................................ 3
1.4. Definition of Terms .......................................................................................................... 3
Section Two .................................................................................................................................... 4
Benchmarked Standards.................................................................................................................. 4
2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 4
2.2 Identified Benchmarks ..................................................................................................... 4
2.2.1. Local and Regional Standards ...................................................................................... 4
2.2.2. Global Standards and Guidelines ................................................................................. 5
2.3 Analysis and Contextualization of the Benchmarks ........................................................ 5
2.4 Benchmarked Standard Requirements ............................................................................. 7
2.4.1. Enterprise Data Center .............................................................................................. 7
2.4.2. Enterprise LAN, WLAN and WAN Connectivity .................................................... 8
2.4.3. Unified Physical Access Control Solution and Surveillance System ....................... 8
2.4.4. Testing and Maintenance Center (TMC) .................................................................. 9
2.4.5. Emerging Technologies ............................................................................................ 9
2.4.6. Technology Enabled Learning (TEL) ..................................................................... 10
2.5 Benchmarked Knowledge Capital Competencies and Governance Systems................. 12
2.6 Students Access and Computing Infrastructure ............................................................. 13
2.7 Integrated University Management System (IUMS) ..................................................... 13
2.8 Standard Metrics ............................................................................................................ 14
Section Three ................................................................................................................................ 16
ICT Infrastructures and Facilities Standards................................................................................. 16

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 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 16
3.2 ICT Infrastructures Standards ........................................................................................ 16
3.2.1 Enterprise Network ................................................................................................. 16
3.2.2 Integrated University Management System and Centralized Services ................... 20
3.2.3 Desktop Compute Infrastructure (DCI) .................................................................. 21
3.2.4 Technology Enabled Learning (TEL) ..................................................................... 24
3.3 Unified Physical Access Control Solution and Intelligent Surveillance System ........... 29
3.4 Maintenance Workshop / IT Gurage/ IT Clinic ............................................................. 30
3.5 Knowledge Capital Competency, ICT Governance and Control System ...................... 30
Section Four .................................................................................................................................. 32
Emerging Infrastructures and Facilities Standards ....................................................................... 32
4.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 32
4.2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) ............................................................................................. 32
4.2.1 Standard Infrastructures .......................................................................................... 32
4.2.2 Standard Facilities ................................................................................................... 33
4.2.3 AI Platforms ............................................................................................................ 35
4.2.4 AI Policy and Ethics ............................................................................................... 36
4.3 Internet of Things (IoT).................................................................................................. 36
4.3.1 Standard Infrastructures .......................................................................................... 36
4.3.2 Standard Facilities ................................................................................................... 37
4.3.3 IoT Platforms .......................................................................................................... 38
4.4 Virtual Labs (Vlab) ........................................................................................................ 38
4.4.1 Standard Infrastructures and Facilities.................................................................... 38
4.5 Big Data.......................................................................................................................... 39
4.5.1 Infrastructure and Facilities .................................................................................... 39
4.5.2 Integrated Big Data Ecosystems - Data, Infrastructures and Facilities .................. 40
4.5.3 Smart Campus Contributors .................................................................................... 41
4.6 HPC Data Center for Emerging Technologies ............................................................... 41
4.7 Cybersecurity and Privacy ............................................................................................. 42
Section Five .................................................................................................................................. 43
Standardization Enablers .............................................................................................................. 43
5.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 43

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 5.2 High Speed and Reliable Connectivity .......................................................................... 43
5.3 Digital Readiness............................................................................................................ 43
5.4 ICT Sourcing and Supply Management ......................................................................... 44
5.5 Regional and International Alignment ........................................................................... 44
5.6 Implementation/Enforcement Strategies ........................................................................ 44
Authorization ................................................................................................................................ 45
References ..................................................................................................................................... 46
Annexes......................................................................................................................................... 50
Annex I - Standard Performances Indicators ............................................................................ 50
Annex II – eLearning Platform Modules .................................................................................. 51
Annex III - Digital Library ........................................................................................................ 62

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 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
ACS Access Control System

ADA American Disability Act

AI Artificial Intelligence

AR Augmented Reality

ATM Automatic Transfer Mode

ATS Automatic Transfer Switch

AV Audio Video

BD Building Distributor

BICSI Building Industry Consulting Services International

CCTV Closed Circuit Television

CD Campus Distributor

COTS Commercial Off The Shelf

CRAC Computer Room Air Conditioners

DFS Distributed File System

DOI Digital Object Identifier

DRM Digital Rights Management

EBCS Ethiopian Building Code Standards

EBS Ethiopian Building Code Standard for Electrical Installation

EOSH Ethiopian Occupational Safety and Health

ES Ethiopian Standard

FC Foot Candle

FDDI Fiber Distributed Data Interface

FTP File Transfer Protocol

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GB Giga Bytes

Gbps Gigabits per second

HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface

HEI Higher Education Institution

HVAC Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

ICT Information and Communications Technology

IEC International Electromechanical Commission

IECC International Energy Conservation Code

IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

IoT Internet of Things

IP Internet Protocol

IPR Intellectual Property Right

ISO International Standards Organization

IUMS Integrated University Management System

LAN Local Area Network

LED Light Emitting Diode

LMS Learning Management System

MB Mega Bytes

MoLSA Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

MOOCs Massive Open Online Courses

MoSHE Ministry of Science and Higher Education

MR Mixed Reality

MSAs Multi-Source Agreements

MTBF Mean Time Between Failures

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NIC Network interface controller

OCR Optical Character Recognition

OLED Organic Light Emitting Diode

PbHEI Public HEI

PBX Private Branch Exchange

PDA Personal Digital Assistant

PDU Power Distribution Unit

PoE Power over Ethernet

PrHEI Private HEI

PUE Power Use Effectiveness

SSL Secure Sockets Layer

STP Shielded Twisted Pair

TB Tera Bytes

TEL Technology Enabled Learning

TIA Telecommunication Industry Association

TLS Transport Layer Security

TMC Testing and Maintenance Center

TVET Technical and Vocational Education and Training

UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

USB Universal Serial Bus

UTP Unshielded Twisted Pair

VGA Video Graphics Adapter

VR Virtual Reality

VSS Video Surveillance System

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WAN Wide Area Network

WLAN Wireless Local Area Network

WXGA Wide and Extended Graphics Array

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 Section One

Introduction
1.1. Background
Since its establishment, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE) has enacted many
policies, directives and guidelines to execute the duties and responsibilities vested up on it by
Proclamation № 1152/2019. As stated in the same proclamation Section 5, Article 86/5, one of its
mandates is to

“…issue minimum national educational quality standards …”

To realize this mandate, the Ministry has put extra efforts to develop and implement policies,
directives, and strategies that enhance access, equity and quality of education across all Higher
Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country. At National and the Ministry level, the focus is shifted
from opening new tertiary academic institutes to enhance quality and standardize the delivery of
programs. Hence, the new policies and directives are also reflections of this new focus. Among
the various policies and directives enacted by the MoSHE includes but not limited to the following:

 Higher Education Policy and Strategy 2021-2030

 Digital Skills Country Action Plan for Higher Education and TVET 2021-2030

 National Science Development Strategic Plan 2021-2030

 Ethiopian TVET Policy and Strategy

 National ICT Strategic Plan for Higher Education and TVET 2021-2030

 National Science Policy and Strategy

 National Science Infrastructure and Facilities Improvement Program

As it can be seen in the above list, these policies, directives, and strategies are developed and being
implemented so as to normalize the existing heterogeneous nature of tertiary academic institutes
in delivering the various programs. The Ministry went further by enforcing a self-assessment

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mechanism of each institutes backing it up by site visits so that to what extent the various policies
and directives are being cascaded and realized at the grass roots level. It has also conducted
baseline studies to see the gap between the expected outcomes and improvements and the reality.
Moreover, an attempt has been made to identify the challenges so that supportive mechanisms are
put in place.

In this process, it would be evident to identify the exact level each HEI is in and devise
contextualized support mechanism that enable to intervene to the actual challenge identified.

To this end, the Ministry itself faced with many challenges in evaluating, judging and categorizing
the HEIs.

Cognizant to this effort, the Ministry developed this national ICT standardization document for
infrastructure and facilities that are already exist and planned to be built at HEIs in the future.

1.2. Rationale
Currently, there are more than 300 tertiary higher education institutes, from which around 46 are
public HEIs (PbHEIs), 260 are private (PrHEIs), and TVET Institutions. They run programs
spanning from TVET to Terminal Degrees in various areas of specializations. MoSHE oversees
the quality of the programs running in these institutions by enacting various policies and directives.
These policies and directives cover all processes from accreditation till graduation. As a matter of
fact, various policies and directives are also being developed whenever executing a set of business
processes become a challenge based on existing rules and regulations or new demand emerges.

At the Ministry level, when an attempt is made to implement, enforce and monitor the various
policies and directives it is found that there is no common and agreed checklist to evaluate the
existing ICT infrastructures and facilities.

Therefore, this ICT Infrastructures and Facilities Standard helps to:

 Evaluate the existing ICT infrastructure and facilities in higher education institutes;

 Benchmark what the minimum ICT infrastructures and facilities need to be present at
tertiary academic institutions;

 Categorize and rank HEIs based on the what they have in terms of ICT infrastructure and
facilities;

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  Device specialized and contextualized supportive mechanisms for those which are below
the specified standard in that specific category; and

 Identify the expected ICT infrastructures and facilities at HEIs nationally.

1.3. Scope
This standard covers technological aspects, software solutions, services, human resources, and
governance system dimensions of ICT that is required to be available at all Ethiopian HEIs.

1.4. Definition of Terms

ICT Infrastructure: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure
represents equipment and software necessary to implement and operate systems and networks for
communications services as well as support applications, digital content, and ecommerce. ICT
infrastructure includes hardware such as switches, servers, base station equipment, as well as
software, systems, and related services.

ICT Facilities: Electronic or computerized devices used in the teaching and learning process in
higher learning institutions and technical colleges include; radio, television, computers, projectors,
optical fibers, fax machines, internet, electronic board, slides, digital multimedia, video machine
and so on.

Standard: is a set of items identified by established authority, MoSHE in this case, that outline
generally accepted to be used as a point of reference to evaluate and the level of HEIs level of
achievement in establishing ICT infrastructures and facilities in Ethiopian HEIs.

Higher Education Institution: designated organizations providing higher, postsecondary, tertiary,

and/or third-level and professional oriented education.

ICT Infrastructure and Facility Standards: The minimum implemented and operational
technologies improving educational access, equity and quality across all HEIs.

Benchmark: A conceptual framework for obtaining ICT in education which is defined by a set of
distinctive features through a holistic and systemic approach, a flexible and comprehensive
strategy analysis that is used to monitor and set standards to promote quality and innovation.

3
 Section Two

Benchmarked Standards
2.1 Introduction
The dynamic growth of ICT needs to be reflected in the business processes of HEIs to keep the
quality of education, research and community engagement. The simplified assumption by many
that a digital world is just an online application and registration, online course resources,
communication with classmates and professors is not realistic. To produce holistic graduates and
globally competitive HEIs staying abreast to the current and emerging ICT infrastructures and
facilities had become not an issue of choice but survival. In line with this, ICT standards and
benchmarks are required to define the common requirements that HEIs need to have in terms of
ICT infrastructures and facilities. In these section regional and international benchmarks are
identified, analyzed and contextualized to understand and define the minimum ICT infrastructures
and facilities at Ethiopian HEIs.

2.2 Identified Benchmarks

An attempt has been made to identify regional and global references to understand and define what
such a standard shall contain. Moreover, the analysis and contextualization of identified
benchmarks have been made.

2.2.1. Local and Regional Standards

The following regional standards and regulations are identified:

 ES-EBCS 11-Ethiopian Standard Code of Practice for Mechanical Ventilation and Air-
Conditioning in Buildings

 EBS-10-Ethiopian Building Code Standard for Electrical Installation

 EOSH - Ethiopian Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs

 Ethiopian Telecommunication Standards

 Ethiopian Information and Communications Technologies

 East African Inter-University Standards for ICT Infrastructures and Facilities

 Ethiopian Green Energy and Environmental Safety

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2.2.2. Global Standards and Guidelines
The following Global standards are assessed while developing this standard document:

The following Global standards are assessed while developing this standard document:

 European standard for installation, maintenance and testing of products and technologies
for a variety of security, industrial and enterprise networks

 TIA-Telecommunication Industry Association- international professional standard

 IEEE- 802 Standards- International Professional Standard, USA

 Multi-Source Agreements (MSAs) Standard, Optical Communication Industry, USA

 University of Wollongong CCTV standard, Australian

 University of Wollongong ICT infrastructure and facilities standard, Australian

 ANSI/TIA-Standards- International Professional Standard

 BICSI Standards - a global professional association supporting the advancement of the

information and communications technology (ICT) community based in USA

 Guide to Measuring Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Education,

UNESCO

 IECC – International Energy Conservation Code

 ISO/IEC 14443 Identification cards

o ISO/IEC 14443-1:2018 Part 1: Physical characteristics

o ISO/IEC 14443-2:2016 Part 2: Radio frequency power and signal interface

o ISO/IEC 14443-3:2018 Part 3: Initialization and anti-collision

o ISO/IEC 14443-4:2018 Part 4: Transmission protocol

2.3 Analysis and Contextualization of the Benchmarks

The identified benchmarks in the previous section lays a broad foundation that helps to understand
what other countries and organizations consider in their efforts to standardize ICT infrastructures
and facilities in HEIs. However, it demands to critically analyze and contextualize in the Ethiopian

5
realities and envisioned national strategies and capacities. Table 1 summarizes the main
components of these benchmarks.

Based on benchmarked standard requirements organized in the Table 1, an attempt has been made
to identify the specific standard components, measures and metrics in the subsequent sections.

Table 1: Summary of Benchmarked Standards

Standards ICT Infrastructures and Facilities
Infrastructure Facilities Services/Systems/ Emerging Technologies
Solutions
East Labs & Workshops, Device and data Student Management Smart classrooms and
African classrooms, offices, center facilities System, Infrastructure offices
data centers Management System
technology
ANSI/TIA Data center, Data center Intelligent Data Center Intelligent and
Cabling, cooling, facility, Facilities Management automated buildings
System
BICSI Data center design, Educational - IoT/ Intelligent buildings
operation and code facilities
of sets
IEEE- 802 ICT infrastructure Data center AI based Management Automated building
standards and must facilities Systems system and AI based
meet requirement requirements ICT infrastructure
control
European Cabling Data center Data management and Automated building
infrastructure cabling AI based systems system and AI based
infrastructure control
Australia ICT infrastructure Networking and Automated building Smart buildings and
standards and must cabling system and IoT classrooms
meet requirement

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2.4 Benchmarked Standard Requirements
2.4.1. Enterprise Data Center
 Inside and outside space selection and allocation to support facilities such as HVAC,
UPS, Battery backup and generators, transformers, ATS

 Adequate and precise heating, ventilation and air conditioning facilities

 7 x 24 x 365 availability, fail-safe reliability and continuous monitoring

 Intelligent power systems management, redundancy and path diversity

 Network and Systems security from internal and external threats

 Physical security using biometric and smart card access control and video surveillance

 Zoned environmental control, fire detection and suppression

 High-performance connectivity using minimum Cat 6A, OS1/OS2, OM3/OM4,

10GBE core active equipment for internet, LAN and wide area connectivity

 Application hosting, content distribution, database and file storage and backup,

 Managed cabling for all data center facilities

 Cabling installations shall apply standard of separation of power and data cables

 The Data Center Tiers presented in Table 2 are identified in the various benchmarks

Table 2: Summery of Datacenter Tiers

Parameters Tier I: Tier II: Tier III: Tier IV:

Basic Redundant Concurrently Fault
Components Maintainable Tolerant
Number of Delivery Paths Only 1 Only 1 1 Active, 1 Passive 2 Active
Redundant Components N N+1 N+1 2 (N+1)
Support Space to Raised 20 % 30 % 80-90 % 100 %
Floor Ratio
Initial Watts/ft 20-30 40-50 40-60 50-80
Ultimate Watts/ft 20-30 40-50 100-150 150+
Annual Downtime (Hours) 28.8 22 1.6 0.4

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 2.4.2. Enterprise LAN, WLAN and WAN Connectivity
The working area network is the terminal end of the structured cabling network. This is the space
for interaction of people with computers, phones, data terminals, and other devices on a local area
network.

 Horizontal Structure Cabling System (HSCS) materials and accessories are minimum of
Cat 6A

 Vertical Structure Cabling System (VSCS) materials and accessories are single mode
OS1/OS2 and /or OM3 /OM4

 HSCS and VSCS are installed through conduct and all apply for separation of power and
data cables using manholes and trenches provisioning

 Distribution/Aggregation/Access switches and accessories are 10 GE interface uplinks and

POE /POE+ access Switches

 All office, laboratories, syndicates, classrooms, lecture halls, seminar rooms, gates areas,
lounges, dormitories, clinks, lobbies, corridors, among others. are provided with adequate
backbone connectivity and network outlets for implementation of internet services,
surveillance system, access control, digital media signage, centralized projection system,
unified communication and collaboration, and other required services.

2.4.3. Unified Physical Access Control Solution and Surveillance System

 All buildings, smart class room, laboratories, seminar rooms, workshops, offices, fences
and sensitive areas are covered by high definition and intelligent security and perimeter
cameras

o Main gates, dormitories, libraries, cafeterias, museums, stores, parking areas are provided
with intrusion detection, access controls, inspection, assets tracking and parking
management systems

o Surveillance systems monitoring and controlling room are availed per campus

o Access to the control room is granted to surveillance staff, authorized personnel or visitors
approved

8
o Staff employed to work in the Control Room, whether they are operators or managers,
will meet the highest standards of probity

2.4.4. Testing and Maintenance Center (TMC)

o TMC are equipped with testing and maintenance tools

o Copper and fiber cabling compliances are verified against TIA, ISO/IEC, IEEE standards

o Bandwidth utilization, quality of services, power over Ethernet capability is verified

2.4.5. Emerging Technologies

o Sustainable design for energy and water conservation, effective waste disposal; zero
pollution, networking and system management are implemented

o Space utilization and flexibility of ICT infrastructure and facilities

o Fully controlled access control, automation system, security and safety system,

o Safe working environment

o Safety and security measures such as fire, earthquake/seismic sensors, disaster, and
structural deflection sensors are in placed

o ICT Infrastructures and facilities automation system in buildings

o Healthcare and intelligent building technologies

o High speed backbone and internet connectivity for remote access and control

o Internet of Things (IoT) on door locks, appliances, smart meters, video surveillances,
health care devices, thermostats, sensors etc.

o Nextgen IPS attack prevention solution and APT Attacks

o Datacenter emerging technologies including, but not limited to, Intelligent data center
infrastructures, facilities and environment Management system have been identified

o AI enabled campus

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 2.4.6. Technology Enabled Learning (TEL)
Benchmarked smart classrooms infrastructures and facilities based on their degree of smartness.

Basic Smart

 WXGA resolution ceiling mounted projector

 Dedicated connectivity and computer

 Wi-Fi access

 Audio Video System

 Power supply backup

 Surveillance system

 Computer connection box (VGA, HDMI cable, twin power plug ins, USB connections,
audio connections, NIC)

Smart

 WXGA resolution ceiling mounted projector

 Dedicated connectivity and computer

 Wi-Fi access

 Power supply backup

 Computer connection box (VGA, HDMI cable, twin power plug ins, USB connections,
audio connections, NIC)

 High quality audio video (AV) system and high quality document camera

 Interactive whiteboard with Minimum 4000 x 4000 resolution

 High performance computing capability

 Flat panel displays on either side of the projection surface

 Surveillance system.

 In classrooms which do not use in-room microphone amplification, an automatic tracking

camera shall be used

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Intelligent

 Minimum of 10 Gigabits connectivity

 Document Camera/Visualizers with HDMI, VGA and supper speed USB 3.0 connector,
High resolution touch sensitive LED/OLED display, 60FPS or greater capability, High
storage capacity

 Interactive whiteboard with Minimum 4000 x 4000 resolution

 Interactive Projector with wireless connectivity (LTE or 5G) and Bluetooth 4.0, USB
reading, Multi language support (>30), Interactive surface display with interactive pen

 High quality digital Podium with embedded display tablets, equipped with amplifier,
speaker and mic, integrated UPSs, lecture recording system, wireless connectivity with
mobile devices and internet, RFID connectivity, with smart controller (IWB, projector,
lightening, and other required facilities), Intelligent Power System Control, a forecasting
capabilities of device power usage and metering

 Intelligent air conditioning, light system and surveillance system

 Intelligent and high-quality audio video (AV) system

 Virtual Learning Assistant Platform and Adaptive or Advanced Learning Platform and
Intelligent Tutoring System

 Power supply backup

 Data File System (DFS)

 High performance computing capability

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 2.5 Benchmarked Knowledge Capital Competencies and Governance Systems
Table 3: Competence of Knowledge Capital and Governance System

Competencies Certificate of Competence Proficiency

Network and System Degree, specializations and industrial Evidence of technical proficiency in
Administrators / certifications in network infrastructure network and systems careful planning,
Engineers and systems design and review
Datacenter experts and Degree, specializations and industrial Demonstrated evidence of technical
technicians certifications in HVAC and electric proficiency and capabilities in
power system designing, careful planning, review,
corrective and preventive
maintenances.
Technical Operation and Degree, specializations and Demonstrated evidence of technical
maintenance technicians/ certifications across devices, brands proficiency and skill in corrective and
engineers and areas in telecom, IP phones, preventive technical operation and
electricity and electronics, HVAC, etc. maintenance and as well as repair of
facilities
Software Programmer/ Degree, specializations and Demonstrated evidence of software /
Developer/Engineer and certifications in software platforms and database development proficiency
Database frameworks, languages, databases,
Developer/Administrator testers, analysts, architects,
maintainers
Technology Enabled Degree, specializations and Demonstrated evidence of technical
Learning certifications proficiency on electronic and virtual
in course content, LMS, virtual and learning, LMS, smart classes, digital
electronic learning, unified studios, cloud solutions, web
communications and collaboration, applications, multimedia production
multimedia, web masters and digital and editing and related services
signage, studio engineer

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 Competencies Certificate of Competence Proficiency
Cyber security Degree, specializations and Demonstrated evidences
professionals /auditors certifications in network, system and cybersecurity proficiency
cyber security, auditing, vulnerability
testing, penetration testing, intrusion
detection and prevention system
experts
Governance System Holistic ICT strategy, policy, Production, approval and
continuity plan, disaster recovery plan, implementation of ICT governance
ICT use policy, project portfolios, ICT and control system
service catalogues, restructured
governance and control system, job
profile specification and career
trajectory

2.6 Students Access and Computing Infrastructure

Table 4: Student’s access and computing

Country Computer to Student Ratio Bandwidth to Student

Kenya 1:7 4-10 Mbps
China 1:5 High-speed Internet
USA 1:1.8 High-speed Internet
Japan 1:4 High-speed Internet

2.7 Integrated University Management System (IUMS)

Benchmarked standard emphasizes, to unite stakeholders and drive efficiencies on a single
integrated platform for students, faculties, administration and governance, integrated University
Management System (IUMS) have been designed, developed, deployed and implemented.

However, most of Ethiopian higher educational institutions are not capable of providing integrated
university management system and services.

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 2.8 Standard Metrics
Standard metrics are measures of quantitative commonly used for comparing, and tracking
performance based on identified standards. Institutions that are outside the typical performance
range show relatively more or less of an emphasis on the use of ICT.

Budget Impact
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐵𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐼𝐶𝑇
𝐵𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡 = 𝑥 100%
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐵𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐼𝐶𝑇

Budget Support Level

𝐵𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑆𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝐿𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙 = 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐼𝐶𝑇 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑏𝑦 𝐵𝑢𝑑𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝐶𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠

Staff Service Profile

Staff Service Profile  Percentage Distribution of ICT Personnel by Service Areas

Computer Availability

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝐸𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑦𝑒𝑒𝑠 + 𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐴𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠

Power Usage Efficiency

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 Facility Power

Power Usage =
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 ICT Power

Data Center Infrastructure Efficiency

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐼𝐶𝑇 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟

𝐷𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝐶𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐼𝑛𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 =
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟

ICT Equipment Utilization

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝐼𝐶𝑇

𝐼𝐶𝑇 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑝𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑈𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 =
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝐼𝐶𝑇

Power Use Effectiveness (PUE) is a measure of energy efficiency:

Amouno of Enrgy Used in the Data Center
o 𝐷𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝐶𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 = 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑠

14
 o Indicator PUE shall be between 1-3. The closer to one is the better the power
efficiency and effectiveness is.

Carbon Usage Effectiveness

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑂2 𝐸𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐷𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝐶𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦

𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛 𝑈𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 =
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐼𝐶𝑇 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑝𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦

15
 Section Three
ICT Infrastructures and Facilities Standards
3.1 Introduction
Recently the ministry and HEIs are working towards automating many business processes. As part
of capacity building and modernizing the core businesses, it is necessary to implement ICT
infrastructure and facilities power standards. The ICT infrastructure includes hardware, software,
networks, and facilities used to develop, test, deliver, monitor, control, or support IT services. To
this end, servers and data center core appliances, such as core switches, routers, firewalls etc.
shall be carefully selected and implemented. Unified access control, campus security, facilities and
solutions need to be addressed.

3.2 ICT Infrastructures Standards

3.2.1 Enterprise Network
Data Center

At its simplest form, a data center is a physical facility that HEIs use to host their critical
applications and data. Data centers are integral parts of an enterprise, designed and implemented to
securely host and operate organizational business applications and services such as:

 Data storage, management, backup and recovery

 Productivity applications, such as email, ftp, repositories

 High-volume e-commerce transactions

 Powering online collaborative learning and research

 Big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence

Data Center Components

Data center architectures and requirements can differ significantly, but data center shall have the
following primary components:

 Core components: Core IT infrastructure and connectivity appliance for resilient critical
operations such as compute, storage, security, high-speed connectivity shall be
implemented. Core data center primary components include minimum compute and

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 storage infrastructure for centralized services, students and faculties such as servers,
primary and backup storage systems; core high-speed connectivity and security
infrastructures such as core switches, routers, firewalls;

 Vertical and Horizontal Core Connectivity

o According to TIA-942-A standard, state of the art backbone cabling/ vertical

structure cabling system shall be implemented using OS1/OS2 and/or OM3/OM4
optical fiber cables and accessories

o Aerial backbone cabling installation shall not be allowed. In the case where
underground installation is not possible, a written permission shall be obtained from
authorized body.

o According to TIA-942-A standard, state of the art high-speed connectivity between

servers, storages, core active devices, structure shall be implemented using
minimum of Cat 6A pure copper cables and accessories

o Aerial horizontal structure cabling installation shall not be allowed. In the case
where underground / trucking installation is not possible, a written permission shall
be obtained from authorized body.

o Connectivity to the ISPs shall be high-speed, minimum of 10 Gigabits

 Facilities - the usable space available for IT equipment. Providing round-the-clock access
to information makes data centers some of the world’s most energy-consuming facilities.
Design to optimize space and environmental control to keep equipment within specific
temperature/humidity ranges are shall be implemented. A standard data center shall
contain the following facilities:

o Uninterruptible Power Sources (UPS) – redundant UPSs, battery banks,

generators and redundant power sources.

o Environmental control – data center air conditioners (DCAC); heating, ventilation

and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; exhaust systems, and fire detection and
suppression systems Physical security systems – biometrics and video surveillance

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 o Data center operations staff – personnel shall be available to monitor operations
and maintain IT and infrastructure equipment around the clock.

o Data center automation (automatic infrastructure management system) shall be

deployed

o Availability /Level of Service: - network and services availability shall be 99.982

% uptime

Depending on the application, size, features required and level of service to achieve, four tiers of
data center are identified, namely Tier I, Tier II, Tire III and Tier IV.

Every HEI shall have minimum of Tier-III data center that adheres to the following minimum
requirements:

 Fault Tolerance: N+1 (the amount of devices required for operation plus a backup)

 Routine maintenance without a hiccup in operations

 Power outages protection shall be minimum of 72 hours

 No more than 1.6 hours of downtime per annum. The downtime is allowed for purposes
of maintenance and overwhelming emergency issues.

 Must have dual power sources and redundant cooling

 Network streams shall have full backup.

 Shall have an option to upgrade / scalable into a higher level

Heat Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) facilities shall be implemented in consideration
of cooling with outdoor chillers, air flow mechanisms and electromechanically controlled fans.

Data Center Physical Security Systems

 The Access Control System shall be installed to serve the purpose of identification and
authentication. This allows entry and exit of an authorized personnel only.

 The system employed shall be based on biometrics for the Data Center and NOC accesses.

 The systems shall have power supply and battery backup

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  Door position sensors shall be provided as required and shall be properly integrated with
the Door Controller System and Application Software

 Surveillance system shall be implemented.

Power System Requirements

 Electrical systems of the data center shall be designed and installed with scalable load
analysis

 Diesel generator system shall be installed as backup power source

 Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) to generator shall be installed

 PDU source shall be from two UPSs

 Core IT and network racks power source shall be from two PDUs

 The data center shall be energy efficient

o Power use effectiveness (PUE) is a measure of energy efficiency:

amount of enrgy used in the data center
o 𝐷𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 = 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑠

o PUE shall be between 1-3. The closer to one is the better the power efficiency and
effectiveness is.

Enterprise LAN, WLAN and WAN Connectivity

 All buildings, main gates, security checkpoints, building entrances, and offices, doors,
classrooms, lecture halls, public areas, reading rooms/spaces, green areas, resource centers,
laboratories, dormitories, lobbies, clinical laboratories, pharmacies, operation theaters,
wards, emergency rooms, receptions, and other key areas in a campus premise shall be
connected to the internet. Public areas such as lounges, reading rooms, Green areas,
dormitories, Resource centers and other required places shall have wireless internet
service coverage. Wired and wireless enterprise connectivity shall consider
implementation of internet services, surveillance system, access control, digital media
signage, projection system, smart television, unified communication and collaboration and
other required systems.

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  According to TIA-942-A standard, state of the art enterprise network backbone cabling /
vertical structure cabling shall be installed and implemented using OS1/OS2 and/or
OM3/OM4 optical fiber cables and accessories.

 Aerial backbone cabling installation shall not be allowed. In the case where underground
installation is not possible, a written permission shall be obtained from authorized body.

 According to TIA-942-A standard, state of the art enterprise Horizontal Structure Cabling
Systems shall be installed and implemented using minimum of pure copper Cat 6A cable
and accessories.

 Aerial horizontal structure cabling installation shall not be allowed. In the case where
underground / trucking installation is not possible, a written permission shall be obtained
from authorized body.

 Depending upon classroom and laboratory sizes, network outlets per room shall be
minimum of four nodes

 Shall have Wi-Fi services across all premises

 Core, distribution and access switches shall be manageable, POE/POE+ minimum 10

Gigabit uplinks and gigabits downlink interfaces

 Shall provide Wi-Fi access in all libraries and student dormitories

3.2.2 Integrated University Management System and Centralized Services

To unite stakeholders and drive institutional efficiencies on a single integrated platform for
students, faculties, administration and governance, Integrated University Management System
includes Identity Management System, Student Information Management System, Human
Resource Management System, Finance Management System, Research Management System,
Scientific Process Management System, Procurement, Inventory Control and Assets Management
System, Fleet Management System, Maintenance Planning and Operation Management System,
Planning and Performance Assessment Management System, Letter, Document and Activities
Tracking System, Support and Maintenance Management System, Library Information System,
eLearning System, Institutional knowledge Management System, Hospital Management System,

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Inventory and Data Preservation System and other required systems shall be designed, developed
/ customized, deployed, tested and implemented and / or shall be outsourced.

In addition, other mission critical services, software, solution and tools shall be designed,
developed / customized, deployed, tested and implemented. These includes the following and other
required services.

 Institutional Grand Websites

 Institutional Emails

 Plagiarism Checking/Detection

 Digital Library

 Institutional Repository

 Centralized File Storage and Transfer

 Enterprise Antivirus Software

 SSL/TLS certificate

 License for software and security appliances

 Indexed high impact factor Journal subscription

3.2.3 Desktop Compute Infrastructure (DCI)

The following DCI requirements shall be adhered.

Room Capacity

 Area per workstation shall be 1.85 m2

 Minimum distance from front workstations to board wall is 2.5m

 Small Sized Computer Center Number of workstations per room 20-25

 Medium Sized Computer Center - Number of workstations per room 26 to 50

 Computer halls - Number of workstations per room 51 and above

Windows for Air Circulation and Conditioning

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  Room shall have Heat Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system

Electrical Requirement

 Electrical Supply: Verify the adequacy of electrical supply for the anticipated load.

 Electrical Outlets: Twin outlets per workstation (computer and monitor) plus twin for
instructor podium

 Workstation light illumination level shall be in accordance with the standard of IECC
(500-750 lux or 50 – 75 FC) and Ethiopian Standard – EBS 10

 High intensity energy efficient LED lamps shall be used

Network Requirements

 Network Infrastructure: adequate connectivity/network outlets to accommodate the

number of computers (minimum one port per computer) with one for shared printer and
double outlets for contingency.

Furniture

 Tables: and Chairs: Tables and chairs shall be high quality and elegant.

 Computer Laboratory Layout

o Inverted U-shaped for laboratories with number of PCs from 20 to 25

o Double U-Shaped for laboratories with number of PCs from 26 to 49

o Theater Shaped for laboratories with 50 up to 60 or more

 Cable Management: All tables must have wire management to avoid cables being run
across the floor.

 Lockdowns: All computers must be locked down.

 American Disability Act Considerations: There must be ample space for a wheelchair
to turn around between rows

 Cable Management: Cabling for all laboratory facilities shall be managed

 All cabling installation shall apply standard of power and data cables separation

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Computer to Student Ratio

o 1:10 for undergraduate students

o 1:2 for postgraduate students

Computer Resource per Student

o 2 GHz Processing capacity

o 10 GB Storage

o 8 GB RAM

Computer Hardware

 Laboratory Computers: shall be high end and computers. Consequently, quality-based

selection procurement method shall be endorsed.

 Monitors

o The minimum screen size shall be 22 inches

Software

 Standard software such as Microsoft Office and antivirus software shall be installed.

 It is recommended to have applications that facilitate computing for the students and
the instructors

 Discipline specific software shall be deployed

Centralized Storage

 Computer laboratory data files shall be stored in centralized storage

Lighting

 Workstation light illumination level shall be in accordance with the standard of IECC
(500-750 lux or 50 – 75 FC) and Ethiopian standard of – EBS 10

 High intensity energy efficient LED lamps shall be installed

Accessories

 Power Strips: Ensure adequate outlets and cable length

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  Network “Patch” Cables: one per computer

 Projection System: Ceiling-mounted projection system.

 Smart board

 Full coverage intelligent surveillance system

Additional Requirements

 Lab Printer: quota based shared printer

 Epoxy Mat floor

3.2.4 Technology Enabled Learning (TEL)

Smart classrooms shall adhere to the following infrastructures and facilities based on their degree
of smartness.

Basic Smart

 WXGA resolution ceiling mounted projector

 Dedicated connectivity and computer

 Wi-Fi access

 Audio Video System

 Power supply backup

 Surveillance system

 Computer connection box (VGA, HDMI cable, twin power plug ins, USB connections,
audio connections, NIC)

Smart

 WXGA resolution ceiling mounted projector

 Dedicated connectivity and computer

 Wi-Fi access

 Power supply backup

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  Computer connection box (VGA, HDMI cable, twin power plug ins, USB connections,
audio connections, NIC)

 High quality audio video (AV) system and high quality document camera

 Interactive whiteboard with Minimum 4000 x 4000 resolution

 High performance computing capability

 Flat panel displays on either side of the projection surface

 Surveillance system.

 In classrooms which do not use in-room microphone amplification, an automatic tracking

camera shall be used

Intelligent

 Minimum of 10 Gigabits connectivity

 Document Camera / Visualizers with HDMI, VGA and supper speed USB 3.0 connector,
High resolution touch sensitive LED/OLED display, 60FPS or greater capability, High
storage capacity

 Interactive whiteboard with Minimum 4000 x 4000 resolution

 Interactive Projector with wireless connectivity (LTE or 5G) and Bluetooth 4.0, USB
reading, Multi language support (>30), Interactive surface display with interactive pen

 High quality digital Podium with embedded display tablets, equipped with amplifier,
speaker and mic, integrated UPSs, lecture recording system, wireless connectivity with
mobile devices and internet, RFID connectivity, with smart controller (IWB, projector,
lightening, etc. controlling options), Intelligent Power System Control, a forecasting
capabilities of device power usage and metering

 Intelligent air conditioning, light system and surveillance system

 Intelligent and high-quality audio video (AV) system

 Virtual Learning Assistant Platform and Adaptive or Advanced Learning Platform and
Intelligent Tutoring System

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  Power supply backup

 Data File System (DFS)

 High performance computing capability

Network Requirements

 Wired data connections are needed at the teaching station, the projector, and to the fixed
computers if applicable

 Wireless networks are considered a supplement to the classroom network

 The connections should be consistent with the IT approved network architecture design

Instructors Station/Podium

 The teaching station can be wall fed or floor fed though a floor box depending on room
size and requirements.

 Use low profile floor‐mount raceway system with the proper conduit infrastructure in
place.

 The teaching station can range from a simple table housing a laptop connection to a
permanent PC station offering rack mount equipment, microphone, document cameras,
interactive monitor, audience response system, class capture (podcast), and
videoconference gear.

 The podiums also come with integrated UPS for a lecture recording, keyboard drawer and
continuous power supply

AV Packages

 Digital Video Projection, image size adequate for furthest viewing distance.

 Touch Panel/remote control of AV equipment, lighting and projection screen

 Podium Computer with DVD/CD player, Microsoft Office suite

 Network connection and accessible USB ports

 Auxiliary input cables for Analog VGA with audio

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  Smart Board where requested, furthest viewing distance is 10m.

 “High Tech” Classroom Capabilities (36 to 99 students) Instructors Station 95 cm or

120cm” Podium

 “Lecture Hall and Auditoria” Classroom Capabilities (100 and up, students) Instructors
Station 120cm” Podium with stool. Wireless Microphone, lapel with body pack. Users
must provide their own batteries. Assisted listening system

Interactive Whiteboards

 The transformation of traditional blackboards to digital classrooms without interactive

whiteboards is incomplete.

 Interactive boards help teachers in engaging students with visual media and modern
lessons.

Speakers and Wireless Microphones

 A wireless microphone eliminates dealing with long coils of wires. They also let you be
more mobile and allow you to be hands-free

Projection Screens Location

 Multiple screens may be required. The number of screens required is based on the type of
seating, seating capacity, the configuration of the room, and the primary instruction style.

 Where possible in the Tech Ready and High-Tech style classrooms, it is recommended
angling the screen in the corner of the classroom to both maximize the viewing angle to
the audience and increase free whiteboard writing space.

Wireless Access Points

 Enclosure should be required within ceiling‐ or wall‐mounted enclosure dependent upon

room layout and ceiling height access

 Category cabling and PoE Ethernet

 There may be rooms that will require discipline‐based equipment or additional technology,
such as media systems, not listed in these guidelines

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eLearning

Developments in ICT have opened a new era in every profession and segment of society
worldwide. The introduction of electronic mail, personal computers, the Internet and its application
to education have produced amazing results. Now days, many institutions are using eLearning
because it is more effective than traditional learning. It can offer effective instructional methods,
such as practicing with associated feedback, combining collaboration activities with self-paced
study, personalizing learning paces based on learners’ needs and using simulation & games.
Further, all learners receive the same quality of instruction through same platform and materials.

eLearning system with the following functionalities shall be designed, developed/customized, and
implemented across all HEIs.

eLearning platform major functionalities. For eLearning platform details, refer the annexes.

 System administration

 Course management

 Content management

 Collaboration and videoconferencing

 Electronic register

 Anti-plagiarism
Quality Requirements

The eLearning system shall meet the following quality requirements:

 Productivity: the system shall have the capacity to serve a minimum of 100, 000
simultaneous (concurrent) sessions.

 Scalability and flexibility: the system shall be able to expand and serve up to one million
concurrent users, and to allow for additional settings.

 Compatibility: the system shall be compatible with current web standards.

 Accessibility: the system shall be accessible on the internet and intranet

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  Functionality and easy access: the system shall be adapted for people with visual
impairments to allow for ease of access and use.

 Stability: the system shall be guarantee a secure and reliable learning process.
Technology Requirements

eLearning platform shall adhere to the following technology requirements.

 Interface: the system shall be user-friendly and an intuitive Web interface

 Architecture: the system shall have a standard three-layer model for Web applications,
consisting of database, application and user interface.

Integration

The system shall be integrated with other existing systems.

American Disability Act (ADA)

According to ADA standard, eLearning system shall entertain learners with disabilities.

3.3 Unified Physical Access Control Solution and Intelligent Surveillance System
Unified Physical Access Control Solution and intelligent Surveillance System infrastructure and
facilities shall adhere the following requirements.

 All buildings, smart class room, laboratories, seminar rooms, workshops, offices, fences
and sensitive areas shall be covered by high definition and intelligent security and
perimeter cameras

 Main gates, dormitories, libraries, cafeterias, museums, stores, parking areas shall be
provided with intrusion detection, access controls, inspection, assets tracking and parking
management systems

 Surveillance systems monitoring and controlling room shall be availed per campus

 Access to the control room shall be granted to surveillance staff, authorized personnel or
visitors approved

 Staff employed to work in the Control Room, whether they are operators or managers,
shall meet the highest standards of probity

29
 3.4 Maintenance Workshop / IT Gurage/ IT Clinic
ICT Maintenance shall be considered as the set of all actions which have as an objective
to retain an item (or the whole system) in, or restore to, a state in which it can perform
the required function.

Preventive, corrective and perfective maintenances shall be strictly executed /

outsourced.

3.5 Knowledge Capital Competency, ICT Governance and Control System

For the successful implementation of strategies, policies and guidelines across all HEIs, knowledge
capital competences, ICT governance and control systems shall be restructured and implemented
according to competencies depicted in the Table 5.

Table 5: Knowledge Capital Competencies, ICT Governance and Control System

Competencies Certificate of Competence Proficiency

Network and System Degree, specializations and industrial Evidence of technical proficiency in
Administrators / certifications in network infrastructure network and systems careful
Engineers and systems planning, design and review
Datacenter experts and Degree, specializations and industrial Demonstrated evidence of technical
technicians certifications in HVAC and electric proficiency and capabilities in
power system designing, careful planning, review,
corrective and preventive
maintenances.
Technical Operation and Degree, specializations and certifications Demonstrated evidence of technical
maintenance technicians/ across devices, brands and areas in proficiency and skill in corrective
engineers telecom, IP phones, electricity and and preventive technical operation
electronics, HVAC, etc. and maintenance and as well as
repair of facilities
Software Programmer/ Degree, specializations and certifications Demonstrated evidence of software
Developer/Engineer and in software platforms and frameworks, / database development proficiency
Database languages, databases, testers, analysts,
Developer/Administrator architects, maintainers

30
 Competencies Certificate of Competence Proficiency
Technology Enabled Degree, specializations and certifications Demonstrated evidence of technical
Learning in course content, LMS, virtual and proficiency on electronic and virtual
electronic learning, unified learning, LMS, smart classes, digital
communications and collaboration, studios, cloud solutions, web
multimedia, web masters and digital applications, multimedia production
signage, studio engineer and editing and related services
Cyber security Degree, specializations and certifications Demonstrated evidences
professionals /auditors in network, system and cyber security, cybersecurity proficiency
auditing, vulnerability testing,
penetration testing, intrusion detection
and prevention system experts
Governance System Holistic ICT strategy, policy, continuity Production, approval and
plan, disaster recovery plan, ICT use implementation of ICT governance
policy, project portfolios, ICT service and control system
catalogues, restructured governance and
control system, job profile specification
and career trajectory
Technical and ICT Firm / Taskforce /Individual ICT Demonstrated skills, expertize, and
Management ICT consultancy experiences, specialties, experiences evidences
Consultant industrial certifications,
ICT Management, Specializations and certifications and Demonstrated evidence of technical
Training, consultancy, experience in project management, management, sourcing, training,
marketing and branding human capital , sourcing, and property consultancy, marketing and barding
administration, training, consultancy,
marketing and branding

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 Section Four
Emerging Infrastructures and Facilities Standards
4.1 Introduction
The higher education setting is at an amazing digital shift as a result of emerging technological
advancements. HEIs need to adopt these technologies to overcome the ever changing requirements
of students, educators and other stakeholders. Currently, students are digital natives, expecting a
more intuitive experience in a campus. Colleges and universities need to consider innovative
emerging technologies to develop infrastructures and facilities. Educators and administrators are
also expected to establish digital workplaces that allow better learning experiences focusing on
meaningful activities that serve the true purposes and promote the mission of their campuses.
These shifts may require HEIs, at large, to keep abreast of emerging ICT infrastructures and
facilities.

This section, therefore, outlines emerging ICT infrastructure and facility standards that HEIs shall
consider. It covers four emerging technologies, namely AI, IoT, Big Data and Virtual Laboratory
(Vlab).

4.2 Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The future of higher education is intrinsically linked with developments on emerging technologies
and computing capacities of intelligent machines. With this regard, advancements in AI brought
new possibilities for teaching and learning in higher education, with the potential to fundamentally
change the administration and internal working of HEIs. The need for artificial intelligence is real,
and it is a must! The introduction of AI based technologies and solutions will bring new dimensions
of learning and hence solving our problems.

The following includes a list of infrastructures and facilities that HEIs shall consider to support
the realization of modern campuses that have smart and intelligent class rooms, laboratories, and
other learning ecosystems.

4.2.1 Standard Infrastructures

 Network - A minimum of 10Gbps network connectivity per campus.

 High Performance Computing Capacity

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 - High Performance Computing (HPC) that processes data and perform complex
computations at high speeds with a minimum of 4GHz per device.

- Equipped with GPUs of minimum 200 cores

- Memory enabled with High Bandwidth Memory (HMB) with a minimum capacity
of 512 GB per device.

 Distributed File System (DFS) like Hadoop DFS

 Storage Capacity

- A minimum of 2 TB storage capacity with latest technology for both the servers
and clients like the Solid-state Devices (SSD).

 Security and Safety

- AI enabled cyber defense like Intent Based Network Security (IBNS) platforms.

- AI base Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS and IPS).

4.2.2 Standard Facilities

Ethiopian HEIs should have the following AI enabled facilities:

o Document Camera/Visualizers

- HDMI, VGA and supper speed USB 3.0 connector

- High resolution touch sensitive LED/OLED displays

- 60FPS or greater capability

- High storage capacity which stores in different file formats

o Interactive Whiteboard

- Minimum 4000 x 4000 resolution

- With two ergonomic pens and eraser

- With four camera Digital Vision Technology (DViT)

- Finger or with a pen or stylus writing support

- A hard-coated steel surface, touch-sensitive which can be connected to computer.

33
o Interactive Projector

- Wireless connectivity (LTE or 5G) and Bluetooth 4.0

- USB reading

- Multi language support (>30)

- Interactive surface display with interactive pen

o Smart Tablets

o Digital Podium

- A 19-22 inches embedded display tablets

- equipped with amplifier, speaker and mic

- integrated UPSs

- lecture recording system

- wireless connectivity with mobile devices and internet

- RFID connectivity

- With smart controller (IWB, projector, lightening, etc. controlling options)

o Intelligent Power System Control

- With a forecasting capabilities of device power usage and metering

o Intelligent AC

- Capable of wireless connectivity with smart controlling options

- Self-adjustment options

- Adaptive to the weather autonomously (temp regulator)

o Smart Lighting(LED)

- Auto fault detection

- With brightness sensor, motion sensor and wireless communication network

o Intelligent security cameras

34
 - With Programmable, small complex image processing solutions like the control
of robots or OCR applications

o Smart vehicle management

4.2.3 AI Platforms
The following AI Platforms are identified to be used in the Ethiopian HEIs:

 Speech Recognition Platform - software to dictate lectures for later use or catalyze tedious
tasks like document and email creation.

 Adaptive or advanced Learning Platform and Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) - identify
gaps in a student’s knowledge and provide relevant coursework recommendation.

 Virtual Learning Assistant Platform - technology to improve critical- thinking skills, real-
time feedback and one-on-one tutoring.

 Personalized Learning Platform - utilizes cognitive neuroscience and data analytics to

create personalized learning plans and reduce workloads for instructors.

 Adaptive Learning Platform (ALP) - predicts future academic performance based on

underlying patterns and relationships.

 Computer Vision Intelligence Technology Platform - With augmented reality or mixed

reality to enhance visualization of concepts

 AI-based “Knowledge Engine” Platform - that constantly synthesizes course and quiz
results, as well as briefings to find knowledge among students.

 Online Destination Platform - show students the most relevant study material from Massive
Online Open Courses (MOOCs).

 Chatbot Platform or AI Bots - simulate a conversation with the user using natural language
through messaging platforms, phone applications and websites.

 Accurate Assessment Platform - speed up the process of learning assessment using

analytics tools that can reduce errors and promote unbiased assessment.

35
  Assistance in Lecture Preparation - automatically send course materials to students as well
as create lessons by mixing different types of learning activities, such as tests, webinars,
presentations, among others.

 Automated administration - perform repetitive tasks, such as sending helpful emails and
deadline reminders, notifying of any changes remote guidance and reduces paperwork

 Feedback Assessment Platform - allows educators to visually see and understand how
students think while discussing ideas or coming up with solutions

4.2.4 AI Policy and Ethics

It is evident that Ethiopian HEIs shall utilize AI based technologies and solutions. While doing so
there need to be guiding principles and ethical standards to minimize the associated risks, security
breaches, and privacy violations. Hence, there shall be appropriate and standardized policy
directives and ethical use guidelines put in place.

4.3 Internet of Things (IoT)

It is evident that everything around us is becoming capable of computing and interconnected.
Therefore, HEIs shall be ready to exploit this opportunity for learning and research through the
integration of IoT into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), open-source
IoT platforms and IoT based infrastructures and facilities.

4.3.1 Standard Infrastructures

 Connectivity

o with a minimum of 10Gbps per campus

o Full WLAN coverage per campus

 Cloud and Edge Computing Platforms

 Data Ingestion and Stream Processing

o Harvesting sensors data, stream to storage, and processing using big data analytics
platforms

 Device management

36
 o IoT shall have spontaneous and opportunistic interconnectivity which needs a
secure, efficient, and agile device management approaches enabling fault tolerance
and self-healing capabilities

 Enterprise Integration with Campus Business Solutions

 Security

o Secure devices with appropriate firewalls and hardened operating systems

o Usage of security mechanisms like digital signatures to allow secure data and
device protections (at rest or in transit)

4.3.2 Standard Facilities

 Data sharing and full data access mechanisms

 Smart teaching platforms to support the intelligent integration of class room teaching
with mobile and cloud based solutions.

 Smart life services integrating social and life style support for event organization based
on IoT data analytics.

 Smart management of campus resources for effective and efficient utilization.

 Unified managements and data security

 Wearable payment systems like contactless transactions as stated in the ISO/IEC 14443
series of standards

 Real Time Parking Monitoring System

 Securing facilities for personal networks

It is also recommended that each campus to have a modern IoT training and research facility
with the following minimum requirements

 Programmable Advanced Microprocessors and Microcontrollers

 Development boards with latest platforms with licenses and patches

 Different Sensor modules

 Latest displays technologies

37
  Latest interfaces for input and output

 Various wireless modules

 Latest and Licensed IoT device management software

4.3.3 IoT Platforms

HEIs shall have the following IoT platforms:

 Advanced embedded systems, electronic white board, Mobile devices, Augmented Reality
(AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Additive Manufacturing Devices to create 3D objects,
Network of CCTV, and Earthquake sensors

 Automatic Electric lighting, Smart HVAC systems, Wireless sensor doors and locks,
Intelligent security cameras and video conferencing, and Connected Assets

 RFID enabled Student ID cards and tracking, Biometric Attendance tracking, eBooks, and
MOOCs

 And other IoT based platforms

4.4 Virtual Labs (Vlab)

A virtual laboratory is one where the student interacts with an experiment or activity which is
intrinsically remote from the student or which has no immediate physical reality. Thus, HEIs shall
establish such laboratories to give access for their students and researchers when they are off
campus. As a result, the following virtual laboratory infrastructures and facilities shall be
considered:

4.4.1 Standard Infrastructures and Facilities

 High Performance Computing Servers equipped with Vlab tools having the following
minimum features

o x64bit Operating system

o minimum 2GHz per core having a minimum of 4 compute cores backed by GPUs

o minimum 8 GB memory

o minimum storage of 4 TB

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  minimum of 10Gbps connectivity

 Interactive Client Screens with high end GPUs image Rendering capabilities

 Visual Display

- 3D Wall, 2 sided, or more (especially for education, training, and research purposes)

- Digital Virtual Tools (VR, AR and MR)

- Input devices

- Projector or large screen to see the experiment live

- Accessories and sensors such as gloves, trackers for body parts interfaces, Eye
tracking and other Physiological measuring sensors

- High end speakers and microphones

4.5 Big Data

Having HPC, AI and IoT, existing computing platforms are going to generate data this is large in
volume, complex in variety, and at high speed. At this point HEIs shall have compute and storage
infrastructure and facilities to capture, store and process these Big Data.

4.5.1 Infrastructure and Facilities

The following minimum technical requirements are identified to deploy big data analytics in HEIs:

 Data sources and repositories

 Data ingestion/storage mechanisms

o Data Connectors that integrate data from heterogeneous sources

o Storage solution to store and manage different data types (structured, semi-
structured and/ or unstructured data)

o Data Ingestion types that support ingestion of data in the form of manual, batch
and real time or streaming.

o Multiple/distributed Storage Areas that support multiple storages used for testing,
and archiving, among others.

 Data elaboration platforms and tools

39
  In addition, big data platforms and solutions shall be

o Reliable, Scalable, Extensibility, and Available

 Analytical Solutions and Tools

o Big data Servers shall be location independent, scalable, high performance, flexible,
and operationally simple

 Security – big data infrastructure shall support the use of multiple security and privacy
mechanisms for access control and authentication.

4.5.2 Integrated Big Data Ecosystems - Data, Infrastructures and Facilities

Recent development in ICT has increased the use of AI-enabled solutions, the Internet of Things
and social media. These trends require a revolution in the data management system. Hence, HEIs
need to develop an integrated data management system to unlock insights from data generated
from different sources. There are various ecosystem analogies (digital ecosystem, open
government ecosystem, etc.) but, they are essentially comparable, and all focus on understanding
interrelationships and interdependencies between agents and entities. Specifically, when it comes
to big data ecosystems in the context of HEIs, an integrated framework to characterize data that
combines the relevant existing frameworks is required.

These frameworks and platforms shall include:

 data supply, infrastructure, demand, and ecosystem governance

o service solutions including smart student services, intelligent financial

compliance, Access to information, and Expedite processes, to reduced wait
times

 Deployment of

o virtual assistants, Automate and reduce data errors, Reservation and queue
management systems, AI-triggered workflows, Digital verification, Robotic
Process Automation (RPA), Blockchain, Location intelligence, Venue
analytics, and Chatbots

40
4.5.3 Smart Campus Contributors
Smart Platforms and solutions must include all AI and IoT infrastructures and facilities discussed
in the previous sections. Smart infrastructures shall meet the following features or capabilities:

 Autonomous data gathering

 Processing capabilities

 Autodidactic (minimum of third level Intelligence)

Architectural and operational model for smart campus digital infrastructures and facilities that are
mandatory in modern HEIs shall include:

 Smart classroom and laboratories

 Smart teaching and research

 Smart student administration

 Smart dormitory and cafeteria in Logistics and services provisioning

 Smart mobility

 Smart events organization and administration

 Smart operations

 Smart stadiums

 Smart IoT based metering

4.6 HPC Data Center for Emerging Technologies

Data centers for high performance computing shall meet the following requirements:

 Intelligent infrastructure management solutions

 Modular, Smart and Intelligent

 Fully redundant 2N design with path diversity (raised floor and overhead cable trays)

 Smart power metering and cabling

 On-demand deployment and capacity expansion capabilities

41
  Highly efficient modular UPSs

 Adequate and self-controlling HVAC cooling systems

 Efficient allocation of spaces

 Proper raking, enclosure, pathways and access flooring

 Smart and multilevel security

4.7 Cybersecurity and Privacy

HEIs must spend more on AI and IoT powered security tools. The AI system should be able to
learn how to automatically detect unusual patterns in encrypted web traffic and Internet of things
(IoT) environments. Service offerings for Enabling AI driven Cyber Security for Security
Intelligence, Operations and Analytics Solutions. Thus, the HEIs security systems shall have the
following features:

 Digital Risk Management

 Identity and Access Management

 End Point Detection and Response

 Cloud Access Security Brokers

 Spam Prevention and Phishing Blocking

 Statistical Methodology

 Deep learning capabilities

 Malware Detection and prevention

 Behavioral Analysis (like prediction of campus violence)

 Real time security analysis

 Computationally efficient (for IoT devices, Data, and platforms)

42
 Section Five
Standardization Enablers
5.1 Introduction
This section highlights those dimensions of HEIs that support and enable the realization of the
basic ICT standard components specified in section 3 and 4 of this standard.

5.2 High Speed and Reliable Connectivity

It is imperative for HEIs of the future to have a high speed and reliable connectivity to realize their
strategic visions. To that end, it may not be enough to have a high speed connectivity but also a
seamless interconnectivity of available access networks like cellular, WLAN, Satellite, among
others. Therefore, the emerging networks like LTE Advanced or 5G shall be available at all HEI
campus backbone networks.

This can be achieved through a multi-layered service provision approach. For instance, many
benchmarked countries standards in section 2 already implement such approaches like European
Academic and Research Network (EARN) and Kenya Education Network (KENET). In our
context, we can have a non-commercial ISP solely for HEIs (like the initiative of EthERNet) with
subsidized tariffs and the second layer can be the commercial ISPs.

5.3 Digital Readiness

Beside to the competencies of ICT staff and academicians, HEI administration which mainly
includes the decision making body, end users, and other stakeholders shall be aware of the
significance of ICT infrastructures and facilities. All the initiatives being made by the Ministry
and some HEIs shall be supported by enlightening all stakeholders, both internal and external to
the HEIs, appropriately. It is also vital to put in place enforcement mechanisms to the digitization
of HEIs business processes.

On the other hand, ICT governance and control system shall be put in place at each HEIs including
ICT Strategic Plan, ICT Policies, Mission Critical Businesses Continuity and Disaster Recovery
Plan, ICT Governance Structure and Job Profile, among others.

43
5.4 ICT Sourcing and Supply Management
Considering the existing centralized common user items, hurdle of the internal procurement
process, and the procurement directives it is not possible to fulfil the basic computing resources
demanded by HEIs let alone to standardize and modernize their business processes. Benchmarked
standards highlighted the need to use cost based, a mix of cost and quality, and quality based
procurement modalities for ICT infrastructures and facilities. Therefore, each HEIs shall take the
full autonomy, responsibility and accountability to identify, procure, disperse and dispose ICT
related infrastructures and solutions.

5.5 Regional and International Alignment

Currently, even though we are yet working on the standardization of our HEIs, in the benchmarked
standards five east African nations already established such a standard within and among their
HEIs. Therefore, while maturing and implementing this standard we shall not ignore what
neighboring countries are achieving. This would enable our HEIs to engage in collaborative
students’ and staff exchange for learning and research.

5.6 Implementation/Enforcement Strategies

Besides enacting and developing directives, policies and standards there shall be enforcement
mechanisms at the Ministry and institutional levels. For this to happen there need to be clear
strategic directions, leadership commitment and stringent monitoring mechanisms.

44
Authorization

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education is responsible to approve, enforce and revise this
national ICT infrastructures and facilities standard for Ethiopian HEIs.

45
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49
Annexes
Annex I - Standard Performances Indicators
Standard Metrics Measurement Level of efficiency /
Performance

Budget Impact

Budget Profile

Computer Availability

Availability of Data center

Infrastructure and Faculties

High speed Internet

Security and Safety

Integrated Service and Solution

Student to Bandwidth Ratio

Knowledge capital competence /

ICT Profession Development

Development of IoT, AI, Big

Data

Data Center Energy Efficiency

Data Center Power Use

Effectiveness

ICT Governance and Control

System Implementation

50
Annex II – eLearning Platform Modules
System Administration: The administration of the system shall include a full range of functions
for the management and configuration of system parameters and attributes, data, users and courses.

The following basic functions shall be included: authentication, management of rights and roles,
user management, import and export of users and resources, customizable view, management of
language packs and log and report management. HIEs E-learning system administration shall have
the following functionalities:

 The system shall support a number of standard roles (e.g., Administrator, Instructor,
Student, and Guest) and have the potential to create other roles.

 The administrator should be able to set specific settings for the rights of users based on
user roles, including settings for bandwidth on e-resource access.

 The system should also be able to create user groups to collaborate, communicate and share
content. These can also accommodate different groups of users attending different courses.

 The platform should enable users to access resources from external websites.

 It shall enable access all administrative tools and functionalities from a single interface.
The GUI should be simple and comprehensive.

 System Administrators should be able to set quota on the disk space for individual users,
courses and organizations.

 The system shall be equipped with the possibility to monitor visits and other statistics of
the platform (number of users, time period, daily frequency, etc.).

 The system shall have event log storage and log analysis functionality for the needs of
system administrators.

Course Management: This module shall provide tools for synchronous and asynchronous E-
learning. In addition, it enables creating, editing, saving and deleting courses, encouraging student
participation in the learning process and ensuring better interactivity within the teaching process.
The platform shall provide an opportunity to post news and announcements. It shall also provide
an opportunity to test, assess and oversee the student and instructor performance. The required

51
functionalities for the course management module of HEIs E-learning platform shall consists of
the following:

 A mechanism to assign roles and rights to the users, as well as assign access rights to
various e-resources within the system.

 Single Sign On authentication protocols that save the specified rights and roles and offer
users to access the entire system.

 Be able to generate a standard user activity and system access reports and creating
customized reports without the need for additional programming.

 The system should dispose of available tools for communication and interaction such as a
calendar, messages and announcements, email service, tasks, and chat.

 The system shall allow the upload and download of course syllabuses, reference materials
that are accessible through users’ specific access rights.

 The system shall allow for the publishing of notices accessible to all students, or by
assigning specific access rights to particular students.

 The system shall enable users to create templates for the courses and a course content.

 The system shall have modern and intuitive Web interface with the possibility for the user
to customize the appearance of the Web interface (colors, fonts, design, background and
content).

 The system shall enable users to create and/or upload course catalogues and to search and
view courses according to specific rights and roles of individual users.

 The system shall integrate and embed images, presentations and video content from social
media platforms such as Flickr, YouTube, and Facebook without leaving the institution
environment and without the need for specialized knowledge of web development (HTML,
CSS, and JavaScript).

 The system shall support for common file formats and the possibility to embed the content
of most commonly used file formats. In addition, it should display and reproduce the file

52
 formats within the platform, subject to the availability of the relevant plug-ins in the
installation of the user’s browser.

 The system shall enable users to create different sections within a course.

 Accessibility for disabled people – this shall be proved by references from external
organizations (international/national) related to people with disabilities.

 The system shall empower users to access different content depending on individual
performance and student progress.

 The system shall enable users to change the course settings and make certain tools and parts
of the course content (in) accessible on specific dates and at specific times.

 The system shall empower instructors to archive a portion of the course or the entire course.

 The system shall have functionalities of automatic notification to users about new activities,
publications, assignments, examinations, tests, or changes in the course.

 The system shall enable instructors to be able to create groups, to control a group’s
membership by assigning specific rights to users, and to determine what tools are available
to certain groups.

 The system shall have functionalities for online submission of assignments and exam
facilities.

 The system shall have functionalities to conduct surveys among users in the system.

 The system shall have functionalities to undergo course evaluation such as peer evaluation,
instructor evaluation, and immediate supervisor evaluation.

 Note: Students cannot sit for exams unless they evaluate the course instructors.

 The platform shall have the following functionalities for evaluating users:

 Exam questions to be defined with additional descriptive information (metadata)

that allows rapid sorting by subject or other indicators, in order to reuse questions
in subsequent tests/exams.

53
 Multiple of tests and examinations can be administered at different times.

 Student self-assessment with sample questions presents randomly.

 Import and export tests and questionnaires

 Creating a repository of questions, allowing repeated use of the questions in
different courses and tests without the need for recreation.

 Set weights for the automatic evaluation of questions and award partial credit to
test questions.

 Generate reports on tests, exams and assignments.

 Visualization of the course progress allowing the user to quickly and easily
understand where s/he stands in the learning process.

 Integrated tools for promoting student participation in the learning process, such as
forums.

 Instructors-student feedback.

 The forums shall allow instructors not only to communicate with the students, but
also to assess their work.

 Members in course forum shall be able to receive e-mail notifications about

changes forum related changes.

 Instructors blog creation and regulation of content and allows & encourages the
students in the participation during learning process.

 Integrate a chat system. Here, the instructor must possess a set of tools to set the
rights of students in the chat and moderation of conversations.

 The system should have functionalities for the creation of a centralized location for
group project activities, involving communication between group members, file
sharing, discussions and peer assessment between the users in one course and users
attending different courses.

 Provide Email services

54
  Setting recommended sources of information for educational purposes

 Quick and easy check for student views

 Creating student groups (after the respective rights have been assigned by the
instructor.

 Group assignment/projects issue, submission and marking.

 Assessing level of individual student contribution and to provide feedback to each

member of the group.

 Assessment of performance of students question by-question basis

 Enabling students to create blogs after the respective rights have been assigned by
the instructor.

 Instructors to issue an advice if individual students fail to meet certain individual

performance criteria.

 Enable the administrator to create required personal portfolio template for various
user groups

 Enable users (student or instructor) to create a personal portfolio where they can
include information such as: images, projects, reports and other personal
information, as well as individual access rights to their portfolio.

Content Management: This module should store and manage learning content of all users on the
platform in order to facilitate work with the learning material. The required functionalities for the
content management module of HEIs E-learning platform should consists of the following:

 Store and manage any type of content from a centralized location where it can be
administered, updated and shared.

 Set different access rights to users.

 Centrally organize and manage electronic content, including multimedia in several different
courses rather than duplicating the changes in every single course.

55
  Enable instructors and students to set access rights to specific files and directories for a
number of different courses, instead of copying the content for each course.

 Enables track the history of each file or directory from the content management system, i.e.
to check which user accessed it, when and from where.

 Enables to keep different versions of the file – the system should be able to automatically
save the last version of the document and keep all previous versions.

 Stores detailed information about all versions and track changes to the file or project made
by different users.

 Ensures graphical functionality resembling the management of files and directories in

desktop operating systems such as Windows, Linux and Mac.

 Enables users to easily, quickly and conveniently share educational resources by assigning
access rights to files and folders that can be organized and managed by both the
administrator and individual users.

 Enables quick and simultaneous update of information from one centralized location to
different organizations, portfolios and courses.

 A drag-and-drop functionality.

 Instructors can quickly and easily view and manage all the files related to their courses.

 Visualization of supported file formats from external websites through hyperlinks.

 Controlled sharing of content components with external users.

The content management module shall be fully integrated with the File Managers of desktop
operating systems (Windows Explorer, Finder, etc.). It shall allow access to directories in the
information repository direct from the user’s desktop via the file managers of operating systems
without the need to use a Web browser.

Collaboration and Videoconferencing

This module shall provide a virtual environment resembling the actual learning environment and
containing the required functionality for online learning, such as videoconferencing, in addition to

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facilitating the work on group projects within the class and encouraging interaction between
students.

Required Functionalities for Collaboration and Videoconferencing

 Videoconferencing.

 Text messaging.

 Allowing the students online discussions.

 Recording and playback of audio and/or video messages during certain activities in the
learning process.

 Sharing desktop applications.

 Sharing presentations.

 An ‘Interactive Whiteboard’ space, to support interaction of all participants simultaneously

or separately (the rules for such interaction should be set by the teacher who acts as
moderator).

 Screen sharing (or sharing parts of the screen).

 Sharing Web content and management of students’ browsers in order to focus on the content
imposed by the moderator.

 Audio and/or video recording of the session for streaming purposes and for reusing the
learning material integrated into the platform.

 Management of the classroom by the instructor, including granting and revoking rights for
voice and video participation, rights for writing on the whiteboard, assignment and
withdrawal of rights for writing and receiving text messages, for screen sharing and for
individual desktop applications.

 The possibility to make advanced audio and/or video recordings of parts of the session, or
the entire session, and specify settings for classroom management in the absence of a
moderator.

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Electronic Register

It stores the results and marks from various examinations, tests, assignments and group projects.
The system should be able to generate various reports on student performance in order to help
analyze their performance and attendance.

Required Functionalities for Electronic Register

 The possibility to create multi-component evaluation schemes.

 The possibility of anonymous assessment.

 The possibility to automatically assess a student’s activity in forums, blogs, journals, wikis
and student portfolios.

 The possibility to make a weighted evaluation of several different types of performance and
the opportunity to individually set different weights for different users.

 The possibility to create and save filters for the results of students so that the instructor can
analyze their individual and group performance.

 Automatically adding marks for homework, examinations, tests and other student
assignments in the electronic register.

 The possibility of manual editing by the instructor of the automatically generated

assessments.

 The possibility to hide personal information about the student from the instructor in order
for the assessment to be anonymous.

 The possibility to track changes in the assessments.

 The possibility for teachers to directly send messages to students and parents from the
electronic register.

 The possibility to write notes and information to accompany marks that can be seen only by
the teacher and/or authorized users.

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  The possibility to generate reports on student progress and analyze the level of acquisition
of various elements from the learning material.

 The performance of students can be monitored by the instructor through automated reports
that reflect student participation in courses and other E-learning activities.

 An early warning system functionality, if students fail to meet specific performance criteria
set by the instructor.

 The possibility to use color schemes and a visual display to show the results achieved by
students.

 Functionality allowing import and export of the electronic register in .xls and csv format.
Anti-Plagiarism

This module should be part of the learning platform and check for plagiarism the work of
individual users and compare their work to Internet sources.

Required Functionalities for Anti-Plagiarism

 The system should function with Cyrillic encoding of the text.

 The system should display a link to the source from which content has been plagiarized as
well as an overlap percentage.

 The system should highlight the plagiarized content.

 The system should allow access to information databases that can be used to compare and
test the content submitted by students. The module should provide for the accumulation of
content which can subsequently be compared with and used to investigate plagiarism in the
content imported from students into the platform.

 The system should allow plagiarism checks of content submitted to the platform in a variety
of formats such as Microsoft Word (doc, docx, odt), text (txt), and Rich Text Format (rtf).
For comparison, one should also be able to use the specified formats, except for plain text
format.

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  The module should be able to compare content available on the platform to a source outside
the system specified by the instructor.

Quality Requirements

The eLearning system should also meet the following quality requirements:

 Productivity – the system should have the capacity to serve a minimum of 100, 000
simultaneous (concurrent) sessions.

 Scalability and flexibility – the system should be able to expand and serve up to one
million concurrent users, and to allow for additional settings.

 Compatibility – the system should be compatible with current Web standards.

 Accessibility – the system should be installed centrally on one or more servers, and should
be accessible via http or https over the Internet. It should have a Web-based user and
administrative interface for public and protected sections and, as a minimum, it should be
compatible with the most popular Internet browsers, such as Internet Explorer v.8 and
higher, Mozilla Firefox v.3.6 and higher, Safari v.3 and higher and Chrome v.10 and higher.

 Functionality and easy access – the system should be adapted for people with visual
impairments to allow for ease of access and use.

 Stability – the system should guarantee a secure and reliable learning process.
Technology Requirements

There are also a number of baseline requirements for the technology:

 Interface – the system should be simple and easy to use with an intuitive Web interface,
following Web 2.0 + trends.

 Architecture – the system should have a standard three-layer model for Web applications,
consisting of database, application server system and user interface.

 Database – the system data should be stored and managed in a database management
system whose price should be calculated in the applicant’s tender and should comply with
the following requirements: the possibility of complete backup and recovery, the possibility

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 to work with arrays larger than 100 GB, simultaneous operation with unlimited number of
users. If licensed software is used, all necessary licenses have to be reported and delivered
to the system for implementation and operation of the developed information system.
Maintenance fees and license costs should be taken into account to allow the assignor to use
the software for an indefinite amount of time.

Additional Requirements

It is important that the system should be able to be integrated with other existing systems. This
will provide greater potential for:

 The ability to convert data from the built-in e-register into table format (xls, csv, etc.) in
order to develop an interface for automated incorporation of data from existing systems.

 Information integration from the existing interactive lessons.

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Annex III - Digital Library
Today's libraries are hybrid in nature i.e. a combination of traditional and modern libraries. The
term modern libraries encompass three concepts, i.e., Electronic, Digital and Virtual Libraries. A
digital library is a library consisting of digital materials and services. Digital materials are items
that are stored, processed and transferred via digital (binary) devices and networks. Digital services
are services (such as reference assistance) that are delivered digitally over computer networks.

Components of a Digital Library

Components required for a digital library can broadly be categorized into the following
components:

 Collection Infrastructure – The collection infrastructure typically consists of two

components, i.e. metadata and digital objects. The metadata provides bibliographic or index
information for the digital objects. While digital objects are the primary documents that
users are interested to access, it is metadata that facilitates their identification and location
using a variety of search techniques.

 Digital Resource Organization – Classification schemes, Subject headings List, Thesaurus,

Catalogues are the tools for resource organization in traditional libraries whereas addressing
protocols, development of Metadata Schemes, assigning metadata to digital objects,
assigning digital object identifier (DOl) to the digital objects, linking of objects with
associated metadata for searching and browsing capabilities, organizing the digital objects
with metadata in the database and building browsing and searching interfaces.

 Access Infrastructure – It includes Search and Browsing Interface which facilitate Simple
Search and Advanced Search with Boolean queries, wild cards, phrase searches and field-
specific searches.

 Computer and Network Infrastructure – It includes hardware and software requirements.

Hardware requirements:

 Servers,

 Nodes,

 Printers,

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  Scanners,

 Digital Camera,

 Sound Recorders,

 Barcode reader,

 Gate access,

 Surveillance Camera, etc.

Software Requirements:

 System Software,

 Application Software,

 OCR Software,

 File Format converter,

 Web server,

 Database software,

 Antivirus,

 Networking software,

 Image enhancing,

 Compressing software, etc.

 IPR and Digital Rights Management - The developers of digital libraries are obliged to take
permission for inclusion of copyrighted material in digital form or develop mechanisms for
managing copyright, mechanisms that allow them to provide information without violating
copyright. Digital Rights Management (DRM) refers to the technologies and processes that
are applied to describe the digital content and to identify the user. The primary purpose of
DRM is to control access, use and distribution; and thereby protect the interests of copyright
holders in the online environment. The legal context for DRM is copyright law. In the online
environment, the scope of DRM can be leveraged to control access to and usage of digital
objects and to impose restrictions on their misuse. This can be achieved through

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  Log-in ID and Password-based Access

 IP Based access

 Product Activation

 Fractional or Partial Access

 Control of the Interface

 Hardware Locks (Dongles)

 Digital Watermarking

 Cryptology

 Digital Library Services

 Catalogue Databases,

 Externally Purchased Databases,

 CD-ROM Databases,

 Remote Information Services,

 Internally Published Newsletters, Reports & Journals,

 Internet Information Sources Mirroring & Cataloguing,

 E-mail

 Electronic Table of Contents,

 Electronic Document Delivery Service,

 Electronic Theses and Dissertations,

 Reference Service,

 Electronic Publishing,

 Discussion groups and forums

 Central storage facilities for Hosting digital collections and indexes

 Tools for loading, storing, searching, and displaying digital objects

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  Special Collections service

 Provision of online materials in electronic format

 Links to free resources

 E-books

 Catalogue searchable online

 Machine readable sources

 Book borrowing notification

 Equipped with PCs

 Barcode reader

 Gate access

 Surveillance Camera

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