ISSN(Online): 2319-8753 ISSN (Print): 2347-6710 International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology ( An ISO 3297: 2007 Certified Organization) Vol. 4, I ssue 11, November 2015 Copyright to IJIRSET DOI:10.15680/IJIRSET.2015.0411011 10408 Enterprise Resource Planning Systems in Higher Education Context: Functionalities and Characteristics Mohamed Soliman 1 , Noorliza Karia 2 Research Scholar, Operations Department, School of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, USM, Malaysia 1 Associate Professor, Operations Department, School of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, USM, Malaysia 2 ABSTRACT: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) vendors in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) rapidly get a new market opportunity as a result of computerized business activities. Enhancements or mere adaptations of these solutions, which derived from business sector experience were not continuously effective. The article focuses on the field of ERP systems and their use in HEIs covering universities, faculties and independent institutions of higher education. Furthermore, new technological advances have placed HEIs into challenging competition while their financing concurrently has been repeatedly declined. As a result of these increasing pressures, there has been a necessity for HEIs to improve operational efficiency and to decrease resources reduplication by applying advanced information systems that span the institution and develop their practices. Accordingly, HEIs have concentrated their efforts to adopt and implement ERP systems. The purpose of this paper is to enhance the discussion on the meaning of ERP systems especially in higher education context by focusing on the characteristics generally attributed to ERP and indicates how ERP is in Business and Its Characteristics as compared to ERP system in Higher Education. Finally, the paper tries to shed light on ERP functional and non-Functional requirements in the higher education context. KEYWORDS: Enterprise Resource Planning, ERP systems, ERP Functionalities, ERP Characteristics, ERP functions, higher education, HEIs, Egypt. I. INTRODUCTION The ERP system has emerged as a popular choice, worldwide, as the system has the potential for those universities adopting the system to streamline their operations to enable increased levels of productivity and profitability; leading to an overall improvement in an organization’s efficiency [1]. A system of ERP is not simply an automation of an organization’s business processes. ERP enables an opportunity for an organization’s business processes to be re - engineered and this can auger well for an organization’s success in the long-term. A system of ERP provides a number of benefits including the capacity for better data analysis, improved levels of organizational performance and efficiency due to enhanced processes in place that allow for improved levels of customer service. These advantages that the ERP system can provide to enables organizations to be more competitive in the market [2]. The vast Egyptian higher education sector encompassed of the public, private and international universities besides technical and professional training institutions. There are many problems that occur in this sector and ERP systems can be a positive solution that play a role in mitigating and reducing the effects of these problems. Unfortunately, to date, the complete use of ERP systems have not been adopted by the biggest part of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Egypt [3]. More importantly, the Egyptian higher education sector is now at the point where it has to implement a business software to improve and enhance the efficiency of the university processes. Adopting and implementing an ERP solution has an impact on all aspects of a business, affecting activities and processes, organizational structure and the environment [4-7].According to Soliman and Karia [8]Egyptian higher education institutions can gain a competitive advantage from adopting ERP system that allow them to produce higher quality educational services for lower costs and to use their resources most effectively.