HEFCE Review of JISC

Remit of the review 1.         This report sets out the findings and recommendations of the Review Group chaired by Professor Sir Alan Wilson into the strategy, activities and effectiveness of the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC). The review’s terms of reference are at Annex A and the Review Group membership is listed at Annex B. 2.         The review was commissioned by HEFCE, working with all of JISC’s public funders, both HE and FE. It encompasses the full [...]

1.         This section briefly sets out contextual information that is explored in more detail in the following two sections. JISC’s history, mission, strategy and structure 2.         JISC was established in 1993 as an advisory committee to the HE and FE funding bodies across the UK. Its mission is: “to provide world-class leadership in the innovative use of information and communications technology (ICT) to support education, research and institutional effectiveness� [...]

The principal markets 1.         Through its consultation (see Annex D) the Review Group sought views on current and future ICT needs, however they might be met (that is, not necessarily by JISC), for all sectors. These needs are described as either general or specific to the four main “markets” identified by Professor Sir Ron Cooke in his 2007 report[1]. These still remain relevant today. There was widespread agreement on the following points, although not all will apply to every [...]

1.         This section discusses what JISC currently does and how it functions, in the light of the above analysis of institutions’ needs. It addresses questions of appropriateness, effectiveness and impact. Strategy 2.         Paragraph 7 sets out JISC’s strategic objectives. Most responses to the consultation did not refer directly to its overall strategy but instead commented on the effectiveness or otherwise of its activities and services. Those comments tended to [...]

1.         This section brings together the various observations about JISC’s current operations, as set out above, in the light of JISC’s historical development (section 2) and the principal ICT needs of the HE and FE sectors (section 3). It represents the Review Group’s judgement about what JISC should be doing now, and how it should be organised, based on all the evidence it has received. The recommendations reflect the challenging funding environment, the changing role of the s [...]

The review will consider: JISC’s activities and evidence about their appropriateness, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and added value. The effectiveness of how JISC delivers its core functions, including: The relationship to and governance of JISC related bodies/companies; Internal structure and processes of JISC and relationship with HEFCE; Capabilities and resourcing within JISC, reviewed against comparator organisations, including [...]

Name Role / capacity Sir Alan Wilson Chair of review group David Baker JISC Deputy Chair Brian Baverstock SFC Assessor David Blaney HEFCW Assessor Heather Fry HEFCE Assessor Malcolm McBain Head of Student Support Services and ILT (Curriculum), New College Durham John McLaughlin BIS Rene Olivieri HEFCE Board member Shirley Pearce HEFCE Board member, Vice-Chancellor (Loughborough) Sheila Rodgers DELNI Assessor

Evidence gathering The Review Group met four times between the end of September and mid-December 2010. It received reports, publications and other written evidence, from JISC and other sources. Interviews were conducted with: Senior JISC staff The current and previous Chair of the JISC Board Senior HEFCE staff The chief executives of two research councils Representatives from institutions and other organisations Consultation As part of its evidence gathering, [...]