Building digital capability

Working with stakeholders and sector bodies, we intend to provide clear guidance over what digital skills are required, and equip leaders and staff with the tools and resources they need to improve digital capability at a local or institutional level.

As part of our co-design approach, we consulted with a range of stakeholders during the second half of 2014 on their challenges in digital capability, and how Jisc might be able to help.

What we’re doing

As a result of this, we are planning to develop the following as national level solutions for skills, higher and further education in the UK:

• A digital capability framework which describes the skills needed by staff in a wide range of academic, administrative and professional roles to thrive in a digital environment. This will provide a structure to help managers and individuals understand what is needed and supports the development of tools. We have produced an initial model of the framework which describes digital capability as six overlapping elements.

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Digital capabilities: the six elements

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• Closely related to the framework, a suite of discovery, diagnostic and reflective tools will help individuals and managers in a range of roles identify and reflect on current skills levels and digital capability, and make plans for how these can be improved.
• A tailored digital leadership development offering will support leaders in developing strategy and plans for the kind of digital university or college they want theirs to become, and the workforce skills that will require.
• We know that staff-student digital partnerships are a great way to boost digital capability, so we’re expanding the student change agent network to encourage and support those.
• An open online development offer which will directly support the improvement of staff digital capability.