IT SKILL LEVELS FOR STAFF (IT COMPETENCE MODEL) POLICY

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. The purpose of this Policy is to ensure that all staff have the opportunity to attain a minimum level of
competency in the use of IT systems relevant to their roles in DIT.

1.2. In addition to this, staff will also be encouraged to pursue continued development by engaging in a
number of training programmes which will lead to a high level of proficiency in these IT applications
and systems.


2. OBJECTIVE
2.1. In keeping with the Strategic goal of the Institute To maximise and harness the collective talents and
abilities of all colleagues in DIT, and recognising that IT Skills level of staff are just as important as all
their other skills and knowledge this policy aims to ensure a minimum skill level across all staff
categories.


3. SCOPE
3.1. This Policy applies to all staff and roles in DIT. An IT Skills Matrix has been developed that sets out the
minimum IT skill levels necessary for staff across all functional areas of DIT and across all grades. The IT
Skills Matrix determines the minimum level of IT competence in Desktop Productivity and Business
Applications required for appointment or promotion to all posts in DIT.

3.2. The IT Skills Matrix showing a breakdown of required skills for all functional areas and grades is
attached at Appendix E.


4. PROCEDURE:
4.1. The IT Skills Matrix will be reviewed every two years through consultation with the IS department,
other relevant departments, management and staff.

4.2. The IT skills level of staff will be reviewed regularly through PMDS. Managers will facilitate and
encourage staff to attain the minimum level of skills required and to develop their skills to their highest
potential.

4.3. Through the induction process, newly appointed staff will be facilitated to avail of training on DIT
applications to ensure that they reach the minimum level of competence required for their posts as
early as possible after employment.
IT Skills Level for Staff (IT Competence Model) Policy - HRP077
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4.4. The Staff Training & Development Department will provide training through the inclusion of a series of
training courses in the Annual Staff Development Programme, through the online Microsoft IT
Academy, through OADL (the online distance learning programme), and through the provision of one-
to-one training sessions on specialist topics/applications.

4.5. All managers and staff have responsibility to comply with the requirements of this Policy.


5. EXCEPTIONS
5.1. The IS Department and non-IT technicians have been excluded from the IT Skills Matrix due to the
individualistic nature of staff in these areas. This will be addressed in 2012 and included in the next
review of this policy.


6. QUERIES:
Contact: IT Trainer, I.S. Services
Tel: 01 402 7896
E-Mail: it.training@dit.ie


The owner of this Staff Training & Development Policy is the Staff Training & Development Manager.


Staff Training & Development January 2012
Approved by HRC
Policy Number HRP077
(to be reviewed in January 2013
and thereafter every three years)
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Appendices

Appendix A Brief overview of IT Applications used in DIT
IT Applications used across the Institute are divided into three main types: Client/Server, Client
Only (also known as Local) and Web Based. Client/Server applications, as the name suggests
involve a Server element and a Client element. A Client is typically the PC at a persons desk and
the Server is typically housed in one of the communications rooms at particular sites. Local
applications need only a PC to run and there is no server element (an example would be MS
Office, Dreamweaver etc.) Of course, data created with Local applications are typically saved on a
servers hard drive. Web Based applications are either hosted internally by DIT or externally, for
example webcourses is a web based application hosted externally and SiteManager, the Web
Content system is hosted internally. The only requirement to run these types of applications is a
PC connected to the DIT network and a web browser such as Firefox or Internet Explorer.
For the purposes of the IT Skills Matrix a number of applications which are widely used across the
Institute are included (see Appendix D), as well as a number of desktop productivity applications
such as MS Office, MS Project, and Dreamweaver.


Appendix B Explanation of levels of skill
Within each application there are four categories of skill levels. Starting with an awareness level,
this indicates a knowing of the existence of an application and what it can do and produce by
way of reports e.g. Agresso Enquiries.
There then follows, three competence levels:
Level 1: This level is a basic "use" level. In other words, a staff member may use Banner to simply
view student records or produce class listings only and nothing else. In the case of MS applications
a person may use MS Excel and its basic functionality - perhaps inputting data into a spreadsheet
which someone else has created. In terms of business applications such as Agresso and Banner,
this level of user is expected to know and understand the underlining policies and processes which
drive the use of these applications.
Level 2: This is a skill level positioned between basic use and advanced use, sometimes referred to
as an "Intermediate" level. So, if a person is neither a basic user (level 1) nor an advanced user
(level 3) then they can be characterised as being at Level 2.
Level 3: This final level is that of a proficient skill using a software application. In terms of Agresso,
for example, this skill level demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of the functionality and use of
the relevant functions of an application in support of a role in DIT.


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Appendix C Self Assessment online tool
This online tool can be used by staff to assess their own IT Skills knowledge:
http://www.dit.ie/services/hr/training/it/selfeval/
Appendix D List of IT Applications covered in the IT Skills Matrix
Application Category Module
Agresso Purchase Orders

Goods Receive Note

Enquiries & Reports

Project Cost and Billing
Banner General

Exams

Admissions

Registrations

Finance
Core Campus

Expenses

HR General

HR ESS

HR Payroll

HR Pensions

HR Training
Desktop Productivity MS Office:

MS Word

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

MS Access

MS Outlook

MS Project

Lotus Notes
Facility CMIS CMIS (Timetabling)

CMIS ePortal (Web Timetables)
Infoview Infoview

Infoview Student Records

Infoview Finance

Infoview Core
Innopac Invoice Manager Innopac Invoice Manager
Millennium Millennium
Payroll Payroll Datamart
RMS RMS
Student Class List Student Class List
TLT Student Grants TLT Student Grants
Web Based Bristol on Line (online surveys)

Electronic Gradebook (Grade recording)

Site Manager (Web Content)

Webcourses (Virtual Learning Environment)
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Appendix E IT Skills Matrix by Functional Area and Staff Grade