Uganda Christian University (UCU) has over the last five years made substantial investment in (ICT) assets to ensure better access to information. Some of the ICT resources that are now available at UCU include: computer software, Network operating centre (NOC), Network backbone, and departmental local area networks, to mention but a few.

These resources are both for individual and collective use. Software systems which are centrally shared  are for purposes like students’ academic records management, central accounting software, human resource management software, electronic mail (email) server software and centralised antivirus software.
Examples of software for individual use of software include desktop software tools like Microsoft word, Power point and Spreadsheet, Microsoft excel, and Microsoft internet explorer.
The Network operating centre (NOC) is for central data processing and storage, just like what theheart is to the blood supply system in the body. This is where the fibre cable that links UCU to the world’s information superhighways connects to the UCU network.
The Network backbone: This is for high speed data flow is like the major blood vessels are to the blood supply system. The UCU network backbone comprises mostly fibre optic cables linking all major network segments to the network operating centre (NOC).
The departmental local area networks (LAN) comprise local-area network cabling or wireless
access equipment, local network switching equipment, computer workstations and print equipment. The local area cabling is equivalent to the small veins in our blood supply system while the computer workstations and printers are equivalent to the body parts which arebeing supplied blood.
Wireless access points (WAP) in various locations: The university has deployed wireless access equipment at various locations to enable students and staff that have wireless-enabled laptops access the network resources minus a cable.
These locations are commonly known as ‘hot spots’. Places with hot spots include the dining hall, Nkoyoyo Hall and the areas around lecture halls and a number of staffrooms. Soon the entire campus will be covered with hot spots in the near future.
There are also a number of computer workstations (with installed end-user software) in use in the university including desktop computers, diskless workstations and laptop computers. An increasing proportion of students now come with their own laptops, with the number of
Student-registered laptops reaching 550 (about 15%) in the September semester of 2010.
The university also has a campus-wide fixed telephone service with extensions in most offices andstaff houses. This service is driven by a local telephone exchange unit located in the NOC withoverhead cables connecting it to the various extensions. To supplement the fixed phone system,the university has a limited number of mobile phone numbers for staff who may be contacted atany time.
How to fully utilise these resources.
If you are an undergraduate student, access to ICT will first of all be necessary during your studies. If you are doing a non IT course, you will take the foundation IT course for at least one semester. If you are doing an IT-related course, there will be many subjects for which you need access to IT facilities. You will need to make regular use of office software tools such as word processing, spreadsheet presentation and web browsing software.
There are two common types of these office software tools. There are those produced by Microsoft and whereas others are Open Office. The two types are very similar, so that once you become proficient in using one type, it will be very easy for you to change over to the other one. Currently both types of office software tools are available on the university network but the majority of student workstations have the Open office type.
Secondly, the best way to develop your proficiency and skills in the use of IT and IT-based subjects is to spend reasonable time (At least 5 hours a week).
The library subscribes to many online library resources that serve as excellent reference sources that provide access to the most current publications in a number of study and research areas.
Accessing online library resources is done by making use of information that is periodically communicated by the library but if you do not know how to access online library resources enquire in the library or at the University ICT Services helpdesk.
There are also a number of emerging technologies that can enhance your learning experience whichcan be explored. For example, when you become familiar with blogs, it can enable you to share ideas (online) with  friends within Mukono, other UCU campuses, other universities both local and abroad.
It can also be a means of improving your writing and study skills. The other idea that can be explored between students and faculty is the use of online tools to support distance learning. There are a number of distance learning management systems from which one can be selected for adoption by the university.
Podcasts are another recent tool that can be used for conveniently sharing education content (in print, audio and video form) to a widespread audience both on main campus, regional campuses, partner universities all over the world and to those that may be doing field work.
All students and staff can make use of the university ICT resources for both official and personal communication using email. The University ICT Services is planning to start providing undergraduate students UCU email addresses that they can retain even after graduating from the university and becoming UCU alumni.
Students and staff are also free to make reasonable use of the university ICT facilities to access only social sites that do not violate the university's acceptable use policy.
Like all things, the optimal use of ICT requires sound judgement, self-control and consideration of others.
 Secondly, if all you do in the resource centres is to access your Facebook or twitter locations, then certainly you are not experiencing balanced personal development. For those who use them, access to social sites should ideally not constitute more than 20% of your total time of access to IT facilities.
Finally, you can also make good use of your IT access time for spiritual growth and service. For example, there are many excellent online Bible study resources and devotional sites
(such as: http://www.biblegateway.com/ ) that make Bible study easy and enjoyable.
Many churches and Christian ministries have prominent web presence that provides
information about them, on how you can start and grow in your walk with God and on how you can pray for their work.
Again if you want to find out about such Christian online resources, you can
inquire from the University ICT Services helpdesk.

The writer is the head of the uiversity ICT Services