JISC

Overview

This study is to describe current practices and envision future processes in identity management for lifelong learning in UK higher and further education. The work will explore identity management issues within the context of lifelong learning, which inevitably involves learners moving into and out of education, combining it with work, and having links with a number of different institutions.

Aims and objectives

The aim of this study is to aid understanding of the challenges facing the education sector in identity management for lifelong learning, and to support JISC in future planning in this area.

The objectives of this study are:

• to detail, through use cases or other appropriate documentation, the identity management lifecycle in a series of episodes within the educational journey of a lifelong learner, both in an ideal world and also as they are currently
• to explore the extent to which the requirements that derive from the above for identity management are met by the Managing Information Across Partners initiative, the UK Access Management Federation, and institutions’ own processes
• 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.

Project methodology

The study will comprise the following main stages and activities:

Stage 1 – Project initiation (May 2008)

• Meeting with JISC project team
• Submission and agreement of detailed work plan and project initiation document
• Compilation of stakeholder list (with particular focus on the higher education sector)

Stage 2 – Modelling of processes (June – July 2008)

• Develop ‘straw man’ models of current processes
• Develop briefing notes for stakeholder consultees
• Organise and carry out interviews with HE and FE sector learning providers
• Organise and carry out interviews with relevant sector bodies
• Develop draft models for future processes

Stage 3 – Revision of models (August – September 2008)

• Revise models for current processes
• Organise and conduct workshops with stakeholders
• Revise models for current and future processes

Stage 4 – Reporting (October – November 2008)

• Compile draft final report as per ITT requirements
• Submit draft report to the JISC for feedback (by 11am on 31 October 2008)
• Revise draft and submit final report (by 11am on 30 November 2008)

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

The main deliverable from this study will be a Final Report to be submitted and agreed during November 2008. The report will be concise (less than 40 pages), written for use in the community and as dissemination of the relevant key issues. The draft report is required by 31 October 2008 and final version by 30 November 2008.

The outputs from this project are intended to aid understanding of the challenges facing the education sector in identity management for lifelong learning (with a particular emphasis on higher education) and to support JISC in planning in this area. An understanding of these issues and challenges underpins improvements to provision of access to services and resources for individual learners.

The work will contribute to the JISC e-Learning programme which aims to enable UK FE and HE to create a better learning environment for all learners; and the outputs of this study will contribute to the guidance and support the JISC can offer.

The final report is now available below. Comments and discussion are welcomed via the elearning blog.

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