TechLearn to cease operations in July 2003
The need to understand, to promote, and to exploit new and emerging technologies in learning and teaching is one of the most important challenges faced by the further and higher education communities. The Joint Information Systems Committee (Jisc) set up the Technologies Centre (formerly the Technologies Integration Centre) in August 2000 to act as a source of information and advice to the Jisc community on how the community could best take advantage of the new technologies for learning and teaching and how these technologies might impact on strategic and operational planning. This work was rebranded as TechLearn in November 2001. Through consultation and research TechLearn has produced a number of reports on a variety of topics, including streaming media, wireless technologies, broadband communications and videoconferencing, which have added to our sum of knowledge and expertise in these and other areas.
These aims have now been achieved and TechLearn will cease its operations in July 2003. The Jisc continues to be fully committed to these objectives and the next step will be consultation with the community on how best to build on the achievements of TechLearn to meet the important challenges that the community faces in integrating Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) into learning and teaching and the management of institutions.
TechLearn has been based at the Technologies Centre in York. The Technologies Centre, funded by the Jisc, is also the parent organisation of TechDis, an ICT advice and support service to enhance access for those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to learning, teaching, research and administration. TechDis has also been successful in researching and supporting the use of ICT within its remit for the benefit of the further and higher education communities, and will continue to operate beyond July 2003.
The Jisc would like to thank TechLearn and its staff for their achievements over these years. Information about the Jisc's future activities in these areas will be given in due course. For further details please contact Lesley Hawkins, Jisc Executive.