JISC Services Case Study - JISC Monitoring Unit
The JISC Monitoring Unit, funded by JISC and reporting to the Services Group within JISC, supports JISC policy and planning by providing a quality assurance role in monitoring the performance of JISC Services.
Maintaining the quality
‘a vital link between the JISC committees, JISC services and the communities we serve’ The JISC Monitoring Unit provides an important quality assurance role to JISC in monitoring its network infrastructure and network content services. The Unit regularly collects data from these services, and publishes reports on overall performance, statistical trends, and any significant changes for submission to the JISC services group. In addition, special studies are undertaken that draw on the data accumulated by the Unit. Where appropriate the Unit also makes recommendations on matters requiring technical audit or other more detailed investigations.
About the JISC Monitoring Unit
The JISC Monitoring Unit provides monitoring, reporting and record-keeping services for JISC and its sub-committees. It is based at the University of Kent and builds upon a long history going back through the Monitoring and Advisory Unit (MAU) to the Technical Advisory Unit (TAU) set up in the early 1990s.
Impact on learning providers
The Unit makes no distinction in terms of service users and Dr Ian Cooper, the Manager of the Unit states ‘FE is included in everything we do’. In addition to the service usage reports the Unit also conducts and publishes an annual audience survey, and also an annual customer satisfaction survey on the work of the Regional Support Centres.
Key messages
Monitored services currently include:
- JANET - the data communications network for F/HE and the Research Councils
- EDINA - the national data centre based at the University of Edinburgh
- ESDS - the integrated Economic and Social Data Service
- ESRC Census - a one-stop gateway on recent census returns for academic researchers.
- MIMAS - the national data centre based at Manchester University
- JISC Digitial Media - JISC digital media service based at the University of Bristol
- UK Access Management Federation - providing a single solution for access to resources for education and research
Further information
JISC Monitoring Unit