Overview of the ICE Program at Monash

About us

The Integrated Collaboration Environment (ICE) Program refers to a group of projects which will deliver innovative tools and technologies presenting staff with new opportunities for flexible collaboration at Monash University. Part of the Information Technology Services (ITS) Division, this program of activity will be rolled out by the Business Change Team, essentially providing new ways of working and talking together... anywhere, anytime.

The big picture...

Monash University has a vision for a progressive working environment where staff can fully engage and collaborate with others, irrespective of their physical location or organisational placement. By bringing together new technology, updated infrastructure and improved workspaces, the University aims to enhance work practices while improving productivity and environmental responsibility.

What are the key changes?

Enhanced desktop collaboration possibilities

The introduction of IBM's Lotus products brings together email and desktop collaboration tools, enabling staff to locate, transform and share content across multiple physical locations. Users can be productive both online and offline, and can seamlessly leverage people and resources throughout the business and across the internet, helping simplify work and streamline processes.

Upgraded phone network

Monash has invested strongly in our Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Project. This investment has paved the way for a variety of initiatives, two of which include IP phones and PC faxing. These new services harness the new IP technology to bring new opportunities for staff communication and collaboration. To this end, better utilisation of the data network has enabled us to upgrade the outdated PABX telephone system with IP telephony phone services, and the old PABX faxes with innovative and streamlined faxing opportunities.

New state of the art videoconferencing

Room-based videoconferencing has enabled cross-campus and even international communication for University staff who once needed to rely on travel or could never meet face-2-face at all. With improved access to this high quality technology we have been able to encourage relationship building and improve our carbon footprint.

What impact will this all have?

Increased flexibility and mobility!

The implementation of these collaboration tools is helping to collaboration tools is helping to liberate Monash staff from the geographic constraints of yesterday's work environment. Today's more technically savvy and mobile workforce are striving to achieve the best work/life balance and need access to company systems from just about anywhere, to keep the University running. As a result, we'll find more and more that Monash people need to work across campuses, while travelling, from home... anywhere, anytime!

Getting greener

Monash has recognised that there is an increased awareness and conscience about the misuse/overuse of energy, environmental resource depletion and global heating.  By adopting these collaboration tools, creating new ways of working and talking and in some circumstances, reducing a need for travel, we effectively assist the University's goal of reducing their carbon footprint and promoting a more responsible approach to sustainability.

In addition, we have developed programs for managing our levels of hard waste disposal by recycling our old PABX phones and analogue fax machines.