JISC

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This report presents the findings of a project led by GuildHE a recognised representative organisation within the higher education sector. GuildHE members, lead institutions which emphasise a strong focus on teaching alongside research, are among the most dynamic and fastest-growing institutions in higher education.  A list of GuildHE institutions is available at the GuildHE members' list webpage

Executive Summary

With funding from JISC, the project investigated:

• the experience of the 31 GuildHE institutions in working with the JISC
• the extent to which member institutions used JISC’s support and services
• how successful members had been in securing or working on JISC projects and the outcomes of that work.

The project also sought to understand the barriers to success together with the needs and aspirations for the future of institutions. 

The report outlines the key findings and recommendations to JISC and to GuildHE members.  It also provides examples of work arising from successful bids by GuildHE members to JISC.  Data collected for the project relating to drivers for change (see appendix three of the report) indicate that improved access to high quality learning resources, improving learning and teaching quality and adding value to the student and staff experience are of highest priority among members.

ICT-related issues identified within GuildHE member institutions

• All institutions have a reasonable to good ICT provision in terms of basic infrastructure (including Wi-Fi), though there is a wide range of students to workstation availability.  A number of institutions have invested heavily in ICT in recent years.  However the lack of strategic management of technology and the size of the technical support teams relative to the tasks that need to be completed is a common problem.
• Some institutions are looking to a faster connection to JANET than is currently available as they expand their provision and plan for collaborative ventures requiring greater bandwidth.  
• Many institutions are looking to expand, in particular in international student recruitment, a specialism of a number of GuildHE’s private sector members.
• Numerous institutions have well-developed distance-learning programmes with more planning to enter into this field, whether for home or international students. 
• Significant potential for distance and blended learning developments (perhaps using mobile technology) in a number of GuildHE institutions is apparent.  Particularly given the strong emphasis in many on professional and vocational subject areas where work-based learning is a strong element.  This potential is also evident in the significant business and community engagement that is undertaken by a number of institutions.
• Many institutions would welcome both strategic and technical advice related to future Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) development.  The development of consortia of smaller institutions to consider and liaise with large suppliers would assist this.  
• A strong need for next generation VLEs to integrate with the wide range of social networking media much used by students was also identified.
• The smaller and private institutions have a particular interest in shared repository work.  Collaboration more broadly was mentioned by many, though not only with other GuildHE institutions; a number of members, for example, have international partnerships or partnerships with UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from other parts of the sector.  Some already outsource part of their ICT work.
• Issues with management of information and administrative systems related to the lack of join up between systems (resulting in multiple sign-ons for students and staff) and the continued use of paper-based systems.  Similarly, for database licensing and library management systems.  Federated software searching was suggested as a possibility.
• E-content is becoming increasingly important and the JISC site licensing arrangements are much valued and should be accelerated.  Work already undertaken by JISC Collections was positively acknowledged.  A number of GuildHE institutions have significant specialist content that could, with benefit, be digitized. 
• A number of institutions are looking at information literacy frameworks.  There is room for more support from JISC, including the facilitation of appropriate partnerships between institutions to avoid duplication.  Some institutions said that the need for training was greater amongst the staff rather than the students, who were ‘digital natives’. Staff capacity, as well as capability, is a significant issue.

GuildHE members’ experience and knowledge of JISC and its services

• Experience of JISC within member institutions ranges from little or none to extensive, reflecting the considerable diversity of the organisation’s members.  Private institutions have only limited knowledge of engagement with, and usage of, JISC services, other than through HEFCE-funded partners.  A number have JANET connectivity.  
• Overall, GuildHE members lack knowledge of JISC, what it does and what it could do for them.  A number commented on the perceived difficulty of knowing what JISC services were available and how to use them effectively.  Greater dissemination from JISC and easier ways of navigating the services was proposed.
• With few exceptions, where usage was good and appreciated, the Regional Support Centres (RSCs) were rarely used by GuildHE institutions.  
• Heads of ICT meetings facilitated by GuildHE would be welcomed.  
• Legal and copyright services were valued.  
• JISC Media was valued by some members, notably art and design based institutions.  
• Some services were perceived as expensive to use by the smaller GuildHE institutions. 

GuildHE members’ experience of JISC funding and processes

• Very few GuildHE institutions have, to date, been successful with bids to JISC for research and development (R&D) work, citing lack of resource, expertise and experience.  
• Some felt the process of bidding was opaque and over-complex, with the larger calls, at least, favouring the bigger institutions.  
• Feedback on unsuccessful bids was regarded as poor with transparency at all stages in the bidding process required.  
• For the smaller GuildHE institutions in particular, small levels of funding provided significant impact.  
• There is, however, some evidence of impressive ‘high ground’ in terms of successful engagement with JISC in terms of service provision and R&D work, though greater dissemination across GuildHE, if not beyond, is required.