JISC

The estimations are based on conservative figures and err on the side of caution. It is very likely that entire cost benefits will be higher than demonstrated here. In addition to the financial benefits discussed, there is also considerable value to the community in terms of improvements in quality to the academic and research arenas that are difficult to quantify.

JISC services provide demonstrable value for money both to the JISC community and to the UK.

On average, for every £1 of the JISC budget the community received at least £4.86 of demonstrable value.

In some areas the value is significantly higher (see points about UKERNA/JANET and time saved by the community below). This calculation doesn't include value arising from Research and Development programmes.

JISC is exemplary in the manner it has accommodated changes in information and communication technology, in tandem with the development of tertiary education. Much of the high quality of UK research and tertiary education is attributable to the success of JISC's solid strategy combined with the ability to identify, assess and exploit new technology within that strategy.

JISC provides a reliable, customer-focused network, easily accessed, quality e-resources and accessible, focussed support. This has produced a highly efficient, high-quality work environment. The majority of financial benefits identified arise from gains in quality or efficiency in the work environment.

UKERNA/JANET provides a high quality, high-speed, highly reliable connection at a low cost per connection. In addition, UKERNA provides support services for all connections with no additional cost for use. This integrated provision is tailored to the particular needs of the JISC community.

The JANET network provides a lower cost connection per institution than those provided by other similar European National Research and Education Networks (NRENs).

The use of JISC supported e-resources saves user time.

Estimation of time saved by the JISC community equals a value of almost £156,000,000 pounds in 2004-05. For every £1 spent on e-resource provision the community saved time to the value of at least £19.

Use of e-resources is growing (35% increase in 2004-05 compared with 2003-04). There is no evidence that this growth is slowing down, so the benefits identified should continue to increase. However, the ability of the sector to pay for further resources may well be the limiting factor to growth in use of e-resources.

The collective negotiation for provision of e-resources produces an evident saving for the community.

For every £1 funding to the JISC Collections team, the community received services with a commercial value of over £26.

The RSCs and JISC advisory services have no commercial equivalent or equivalents only available at a high cost at point of use. JISC advisory services provide valuable, focused advice to the community for comparatively little outlay. Survey evidence suggests that users of these services particularly appreciated their insight and advice. However, some advisory services could increase their user base and penetration, thereby increasing their value to the community. All the advisory services demonstrated recognisable value for money.

Several JISC services show increased value to consumers by growth in use with little or no rise in provision costs. These services include network provision, the major bibliographic services and the Athens Authentication service.

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