All guides

The issue 20% of students in higher and 15% of students in further education do not complete their studies according to a National Audit Office report . Low retention rates not only reflect a negative picture of the student learning experience, but institutions affected are liable to lose valuable...

The issue With rising competition for university places and improving A-level grades, the government is keen that fair access to study is maintained. Students, now paying more than ever for their education, are becoming increasingly vocal about their needs and expectations. What you can do Digital...

By sharing services, UK universities and colleges can save costs, increase efficiency, share knowledge and form strategic partnerships to develop cross-institution support services. They also satisfy the government’s shared services agenda. What is a shared service? A shared service differs from...

By understanding the impact of your digital resources (for example digitised archive material, open educational resources or journal subscriptions) you can manage them more effectively, improve support for their use and direct funding to where it is most needed. Measurable indicators of a resource’...

The issue At a time of severe budget cuts, it’s more important than ever for institutions to maximise the potential of their existing core administrative systems and data. Information and communication technology (ICT) systems must be well-aligned to business processes, work together efficiently...

The issue UK universities and colleges need to make online learning a central part of their strategies if they are to stay competitive globally, according to the report from the Online Learning Task Force . How technology can help Online learning offers flexible, new ways of learning especially...

The issue Research Councils UK (RCUK) now require papers resulting from research they’ve funded to be published open access, preferably in journals that make papers immediately available at no charge to readers (gold open access). Costs to authors will be met by RCUK via block grants to...

The issue Institutions are under greater pressure than ever to improve performance and compete on the world stage, while reducing costs and increasing efficiency. Cloud computing can help institutions drive down costs and drive up performance. What you can do Cloud computing allows data, software...

The issue Institutions require access to accurate, timely and meaningful information about their core businesses and the environment in which they operate, if they are to adapt and thrive during times of great uncertainty. What you can do Business intelligence (BI) systems can help institutions...

The issue Top resource - Sustaining and embedding innovations guide With the continuing emergence of new digital technologies, universities and colleges need to be flexible enough to embrace to their potential. If not managed effectively, this kind of innovation and change can be unsettling for...