JISC

The JISC commissioned a study to describe current practice and envision future processes in identity management for lifelong learning in UK higher and further education; and to map the differences between the ‘ideal’ world and what happens currently to provide a better understanding of what can be done and where priorities may lie for future work.

Executive summary

The outputs of the study are intended to capture the processes and actions related to identity management, in the context of two scenarios, around the areas of provisioning, maintaining and de-provisioning of identity; and the provision of authenticated information about learners to relevant organisations.

To gather the evidence required, Oakleigh carried out interviews with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Further Education (FE) Colleges; consortia of delivery partners, and with sector bodies. The work was supported by desk research and analysis of relevant documentation. A workshop was held to test and challenge assumptions and the challenges and issues identified in the course of the work.

In the body of the report we provide a working definition of identity management and lifelong learning to provide context. We also summarise current and planned work by the Managing Information Across Partners (MIAP) programme, the UK Access Management Federation, (UK AM Federation) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) as it relates to this study.

The MIAP Learner Registration Service (LRS) is progressively allocating a unique learner number (ULN) to all learners over 14 years of age. The ULN will be the cross reference to official data on learners’ activities. The MIAP programme is currently looking at conducting a trial with UCAS on the use of the ULN and the Learner Registration Service in application to higher education.

The UK AM Federation is a framework enabling access to online resources across the education system. Federated access management deals with an individual’s identity within an organisation.

As part of its work on enhancing identity assurance, the DCSF Chief Information Officers (CIO) Group is recommending that the ULN be adopted as the primary educational identifier, allocated at birth. The ULN will provide a consistent identity for linking and transferring of data. It is proposed that the UK AM Federation will provide a role in supporting single sign on to online government and sector services.

Report available electronically only.