JISC

JISC wishes to commission a survey of UK HE and FE Institutions to assess current readiness to adopt services and resources made available by the developing Information Environment (IE). Information gathered by this survey will be critical in enabling continuing assessment of the progress of the development of the IE.

The aims and objectives of the survey are to:

• gather qualitative and some quantitative information about the extent of penetration of Institutional Portals, Library Portals, and Learning Environments together with their readiness to integrate with the IE
• highlight which institutions are ready to take up services within the IE and to also highlight the issues, barriers and challenges surrounding the integration and use of these technologies
• design a methodology for capturing the relevant information above (e.g. online questionnaires, telephone interviews, desk research, site visits etc)
• results will also form a register/database (or part of an existing register/database) in order that institutions can identify and contact other institutions implementing the same systems, and to facilitate continual assessment for JISC
• make recommendations for potential work within the JISC IE in order to help encourage institutional engagement with the IE

Funding of up to £45,000 (inclusive of VAT and related travel and subsistence) is available for the study. The expected start date for the project is the 1 July 2006. This study should take place over a maximum period of four months.