Information Resource Management Plan Overview

The Ministry’s Information Resource Management Plan outlines how information management (IM) and information technology (IT) activities continue to enable or support the ministry to carry out its mandate.

The IM/IT direction is focused on improving/automating business processes including the exchange of data with stakeholders through implementation of technology and IM standards and best practices to support the Ministry Service Plan. These include the supporting systems to; collect and analyze information to ensure accountability for post-secondary outcomes and public funding, overseeing research and technology initiatives, and ensuring direct service to the public for the operations of the BC Student Assistance Program, which provides loans and grants to eligible students for post-secondary education costs.

The focus is on supporting institutional autonomy and shared management of data and information systems, where applicable, and increasing access to information to support better and more collaborative decision-making. The overall effect of these changes will contribute to streamlining business processes and reducing costs across the sector and within government.

The IM/IT strategy is based on the following values:

• Increase flexibility - improvement in student access and graduation rates and increase flexibility in how and where students learn
• Increase in access to and expansion of the post-secondary education system to ensure that the demand for post-secondary education and skilled labour is met
• Increase in investment in research and technology, literacy and lifelong learning
• Information sharing – broaden information sharing and data exchange among Ministry of Education, Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development, and post-secondary institutions and data exchange to promote collaborative research and decision making
• Citizen centred e-Government – the government and ministry are committed to providing its services directly to citizens and organizations. This is supported by government investment in web-orientation infrastructure, a common portal, accessibility, identity management, interoperability, a network, security and privacy.
• Project management – all IT/IM projects are managed through the Project Delivery Office to provide overall effective project coordination and delivery.

Major Initiatives