JISC

The model publication scheme (MPS) is designed for institutions (Colleges, Institutes, Universities, etc) of Further and Higher Education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is hoped a similar version of this scheme will be developed in line with Scottish legislation for institutions in Scotland.

According to the Office of the Information Commissioner the purpose of the model is to:

'save institutions duplicating effort in producing individual schemes and to assist the public in accessing information from across the sector.  However, to reflect the diversity in size and function of institution, a number of optional classes of information are included'

Background to the Model publication scheme

U UK/SCOP (Universities UK/Standing Conference of Principals) formed a working party in 2001, to look widely at the implications of the FOI Act for the sector including the issues around records management, charging and access requests. Consultation with the HE sector will be as wide as possible. It is hoped the Association of Colleges (AOC) and other relevant FE organisations will act for FE.

The JISC Legal Information service was mandated by JISC and U-UK to take the lead in developing a Model Publication Scheme (PS) for use by FE/HE.

Representatives from FE/HE organisations such as UCISA, SCONUL and the AOC as well as individual institutions were invited to join this sub group. They were chosen for their experience, to be representative and to aid dissemination. The Lord Chancellors department has indicated that they are happy for the IC to be the principal contact with the FE/HE community through the sub-group.

The main objective of the sub-group was to draft and revise the MPS. This it did through a series of meetings hosted by the Open University in Milton Keynes from early in 2002 and through a closed JISCMail discussion list. The sub-group has had substantial contact with the IC who sent representatives to its meetings. Maurice Frankel of the Campaign for Freedom of Information has also addressed the group.

The draft MPS is in the public domain and has been circulated for comment. 

Objectives of the pilot projects

JISC has funded six pilot projects to test the draft model publication scheme prior to its submission to the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) for approval.  The objectives of these pilots is to test the accuracy and usability of the model scheme within actual institutional settings.

The findings and recommendations of the pilots will then be used by the Working Group to amend the final draft of the model scheme prior to its review by the OIC and subsequent release to the community at large.

It is also expected that the FE/HE community will find the experiences of the pilots in using the model scheme within a range of FE and HE institutions extremely useful when seeking to use the model within their own institution.

Pilot Sites

Six institutions were chosen, three from the FE sector and three from HE, with the intention of representing as many institutional types as possible.  Institutions were also selected to try to achieve as great a degree of regional representation as possible.  No Scottish institutions were included as at the time the pilots were selected the Scottish Freedom of Information legislation had not yet been passed.

The pilot sites are:

• Kings College London
• University of Brighton
• King Alfreds College, Winchester
• Loughborough College
• East Tyrone College of Further & Higher Education
• Gorseinon College, Swansea

Outputs

Each pilot site has produced a draft publication scheme for their institution based on the draft model publication scheme we provided them with in January 2003.  They have also published a case study report detailing the experience of using the model scheme within their institution. Copies of each institution's draft publication scheme will be linked to below as and when they are completed and will be joined by their case study reports from the end of May.

It should be noted that for each pilot site the publication scheme they have delivered as part of this project is not their institution's final publication scheme, but simply their response to the requirements of the pilot project.

It should also be noted that these draft publication schemes have not been approved by the OIC.

Next Steps

The experiences of the six piot projects, together with other feedback received from the community and dialogue with the OIC will inform the final revisions to the Model Publication Scheme.

On completion the model publication scheme will be sent to the OIC for formal approval during June.  As soon as the approval of the OIC is forthcoming, copies of the model scheme will be circulated to every FE and HE institution in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, together with a form to be submitted to the OIC by those institutions who wish to adopt the model scheme indicating their intention to do so.

Contacts

Model publication scheme - contact ralph.weedon@strath.ac.uk