JISC

Netskills (Feb 2008) delivered a scenario planning project in collaboration with JISC InfoNet for the Users & Innovation programme using the generic HE scenarios developed in 2004 (refined in 2007). Two successful events were held, each providing positive feedback from attendees. Further work and the development of new scenarios regarding roles and responsibilities in HE is timely and sure to provide stimulating outputs.

This project has demonstrated that Scenario Planning is a valuable tool for strategic planning and has developed knowledge, facilitation stills and workshop structures for practical application of the Scenario Planning process, either in its entirety or component parts. Scenario Planning is a creative process that encourages imaginative and innovative thinking.

Four new scenarios were created for future Higher Education institutions, based of current day trends regarding changing roles, responsibilities and working practices. Named Boutique University, My-U, Mega-U and Scholarly Towers, introductory narrative was created and these new scenarios were tested and interrogated during by participants on three workshops.

The project concluded that Scenario Planning is a methodology worthy of continued attention within the education sector and has outlined a number of recommendations for future work, including the refinement of the developed scenarios and regarding further focussed application of the full Scenario Planning process.