Information Technology and Governance Committee

Terms of Reference

Overall Remit and Responsibilities

  1. To provide assurance to Council and Senate that the use and development of IT is aligned with the University’s strategic plan and values.
  2. Champion digital transformation and the use of technology to enhance education, research and operational efficiency.
  3. To provide specialist oversight in relation to the development and delivery of strategic, high-value or high-risk IT projects.
  4. To oversee strategic-level IT risk management, including cybersecurity, information governance and business continuity, providing assurance to Audit and Risk Committee.
  5. Provide oversight, guidance, and strategic direction on the ethical, legal, and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) across the University, ensuring that that AI applications align with the University’s values, regulatory requirements, and best practices.

Major IT Projects

  1. To oversee the strategic alignment of IT projects, ensuring they support the University’s objectives.
  2. To consider and evaluate the adoption of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, ensuring they align with the University’s strategic objectives and provide value for money.

Information Technology and Governance Risk

  1. To consider reports from the Information Governance Sub-Committee specifically considering the effectiveness and appropriateness of the University’s Information Governance Framework, Policies and activities.
  2. To consider and evaluate the University’s information security and risk management practices, ensuring the protection of information and technology assets from threats and vulnerabilities, and to provide assurance to the Audit and Risk Committee on the management of the strategic IT and information governance related risks.

Policy Management

  1. Govern the development and implementation of enterprise-wide IT policies, standards and frameworks.

Standard Duties

  1. To report to Council and Senate after each meeting.
  2. To review annually its Terms of Reference.
  3. To review annually its effectiveness.
  4. To refer business to other Committees as it sees fit.
  5. To set up and oversee sub groups of the committee and to commission reports from these sub groups as necessary to assist the Committee in its duties, and to produce terms of reference for these groups.