About FASS

Since then, the team delivered a series of major enhancements to our student systems (largely but not exclusively SITS) and the processes that they support.

The SPIP Programme closed in July 2021, but the evolution of our student systems continues. It is impossible to stand still, faced with external factors such as regulatory changes, the need to further improve the services provided to staff and students, and in light of technology change.

The Forum for the Advancement of Student Systems (FASS) has been established to guide that ongoing evolution, balancing often conflicting demands from across the University and ensuring efficient and effective system-enabled process improvements.

FASS has members from across Queen Mary who have been meeting on a monthly basis since August 2021 to prioritise initiatives that are brought forward by members of the Forum. You can find a full list on our Members page.

Those initiatives arise from a variety of sources, including BAU operational improvement, significant system upgrades as well as strategic projects that underpin the Enabling Plans taking Queen Mary forward on its 2030 Strategy. 

The student processes in scope of FASS are all those that were addressed by SPIP. In fact, FASS is leveraging the “as-is” and “to-be” process models built during the SPIP Programme, which are still available on the SPIP webpages. 

As a result, a broad range of systems are in scope of FASS, including central systems like SITS but also local system used in specific Schools or Faculties. Full details are available on our Scope and priorities page.

Those systems are being maintained and enhanced by teams within ITS including several Solution and Development teams. All such work is done using agile methods in very close collaboration with business colleagues, to ensure delivery is done at pace, and to a high standard, delivering business outcomes as rapidly as possible.

FASS has adopted a set of principles to guide its work, which you can read on our Principles page.