This academic year has seen JISC run consultation events with college and university membership organisations, to help prepare for its new three-year strategy launching in December 2009. One of JISC’s key values is to be open and this process of listening to what challenges are facing academics and researchers has been invaluable in preparing JISC’s future strategy and investment plan for the coming years.

Leadership

In From The Cold report This academic year has seen JISC run consultation events with college and university membership organisations, to help prepare for its new three-year strategy launching in December 2009. One of JISC’s key values is to be open and this process of listening to what challenges are facing academics and researchers has been invaluable in preparing JISC’s future strategy and investment plan for the coming years.

Providing best practice and leadership in the use of digital technologies is central to JISC.  As an organisation it identifies the changing trends for learners, academics and researchers in technology not only in terms of what is needed today but it also looking to the future and what needs to be put in place to ensure UK education stays competitive. 

This can be seen through the JISC-funded TechWatch service which this year launched two reports to guide the sector, one which and the other, urged the need to plan ahead and consider long-term network capacity as statistics show that Internet traffic is doubling every year.

JISC Strategy 2010-2012JISC also has a role in advising policy makers on these future trends and in 2008 provided the Government’s consultation on the future of higher education with the social media platform to be able to engage with colleges and universities by providing a blog site JISC’s previous Chair Sir Ron Cooke also submitted a report World leading e-learning to help inform the consultation, drawing upon his experiences of JISC.

Working on behalf of UK education and research JISC’s work on copyright and in particular Orphan Works, through the Strategic Content Alliance, has seen the issue rise on the Government’s agenda. It was highlighted as an issue to address if the UK is to become fully digital in this year’s Digital Britain report and JISC is working to help overcome the barriers.

JISC’s partnership activity in the UK and internationally has been strengthened with two additions to its portfolio, UCISA and the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education. With UCISA, JISC will be working with information services and IT directors on supporting their needs.  With the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, JISC will work to create an awareness in current and future education leaders of the power of an integrated technology strategy. 

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