JISC

A transition group has been established to investigate the areas and recommendations of the Review. The Group is being chaired by Professor David Baker, Deputy Chair of JISC.

The JISC Transition Group will engage in more detailed conversations with JISC’s services and undertake market research in the sector, focussing on possible options for the future JISC. Initial areas of work over the coming months include:

• Research and analysis into a suitable model for JISC to become a separate legal entity.
• Investigating options for funding JISC (such as becoming a subscriptions-based membership organisation, generating income, etc).
• A review of the status of JISC and its relationship to its companies (to be coordinated with the current Service Portfolio Review).

To deliver the programme across all core JISC audiences will be complex and lengthy. Consequently, work will start by focussing on higher education and where higher education is delivered through futher education given that these are traditionally central groups and that this area is going through complex changes in its funding environment. Research into further education and skills areas will come in subsequent phases of the work.

The aim of the research is to understand better what technology related services universities and colleges currently (and expect to) use and value, and to use this intelligence to test a number of possible options for the future JISC. The work will take place in a number of stages, beginning immediately:

Stage 1: Identifying existing information, what other information is needed, and who should be asked
Stage 2: Gathering intelligence from the sector
Stage 3: Developing service proposals
Stage 4: Testing possible options with the sector

 

During JISC’s transition period to move the organisation towards a new legal entity, a Shadow Board has been formed to help manage the process.

We have commissioned four pieces of work to help inform decisions about a future JISC:

You can read the executive summaries of the reports below:

• an analysis of the most appropriate new business and governance models for a new JISC as a separate legal entity (Strand A)
• a systematic review of all existing JISC-funded services (Strand B)
• a systematic review of JANET (UK) (Strand C)
• sector-wide market research exercise undertaken by JISC 

Termly Update

There will be a termly update for organisations interested in JISC's transition:

• Read November 2011's update
• Read June 2011's update 
• Read March 2012's update

The next update is scheduled for June 2012.

If you would like to ask questions about JISC's transition or receive the termly update email jisctransition@jiscmail.ac.uk.

Timeline for JISC’s transition

2011

November: Final reports will be received from the consultants who have been commissioned to consider JISC’s future governance and structure models (strand A) as well as their review of JANET(UK) (strand C). These reports will be presented to JISC’s Transition Group in November.

2012

January: Phase 2 report will be received from Strand A which brings together Strands B and C, and market intelligence research. This report will recommend which is the most suitable form of entity for JISC to transition into from the options described in November.

January: The Transition Group will put their recommendations paper to JISC Board, JISC Shadow Board and Steering Committee

Feb-April: Strand A consultants will continue to consider implementation issues associated with the preferred option

Feb-April: Funders consider the proposed recommendations

April: Consultants from Strand A will deliver their report on the implementation aspect of the work

Autumn: Establish JISC as a new legal entity (i.e. set up a company/charity status depending on the recommendations of the reports)