New perspectives from new communities: Change in the
University of Sydney's approach to ICT developments
which support teaching and learning

In 2004, the University of Sydney implemented a new initiative in ICT development with the dual purpose of maintaining the central core ICT services which provide quality assurance for ICT supported student learning across the whole institution, whilst at the same time assisting the three colleges of the University to accomplish their teaching and learning goals related to ICT through the development of strategic projects. This paper will focus on the latter strategy through the eyes of the three college-based project managers who each moved into their roles from uniquely different prior experiences: one as a former academic, another as an educational designer within the central support team, and the other as a project manager from another university. The project managers' reflections as well as interviews conducted with key stakeholders of strategic projects (including both academic and general staff) will be presented with particular reference to the development of new communities of practice within large organisations. They will be framed in the context of a research-based institution such as the University of Sydney, with a view to promoting discussion more broadly about the changing roles of academic and general staff and elucidating strategies to promote collaboration and communication between these merging groups.