Proposal for Quality and Safety Improvement of the Information Technology Services at Sao Carlos School of Engineering

Abstract

São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC) is composed of 9 departments, 4 centers and 1 library. It offers 10 undergraduate courses and is responsible for 11 graduate programs. Its infrastructure is composed of laboratories, classrooms, research centers and library, information technology and administrative services that totalize 71 thousand square meters of constructed area, divided in 60 buildings located in 3 separate areas, connected by means of optical cables to USPNet backbone. The local data network, with around 9.000 network points, serves more than 4.200 locals users besides visitors from other institutions. Moreover, EESC researchers coordinate 71 CNPq research groups and more than 90 research laboratories, occupying more than 20 thousand square meters of constructed area. These laboratories serve to more than 1.500 graduate students, besides undergraduate students in scientific initiation, and to more than 200 faculty members. Within natural budget limitations, EESC has supported the proper functioning of its several research laboratories, specially through maintenance and adaptation of their physical facilities; maintenance, update and modernization of information technology services (wired and wireless networks, data processing center, proper space for servers and storage equipments, among others); and maintenance and adaptation of areas shared by the laboratories (rooms for meetings, seminars, workshops, examination of theses and dissertations, including those with the help of video-conference). However, due to the amplitude of the activities of EESC researchers, the institutional budget is frequently insufficient to guarantee the continuous increment in research quality and productivity in the expected levels. Therefore, the important financial support for institucional infrastructure from FAPESP aims at attending collective demand for research support, with focus on improvement of quality and security of information technology services. (AU)