Subs plan could sink IT infrastructure, Hepi warns

Source: Alamy

Crash: a Jisc report warns that 바카라사이트 UK could ¡®face sleepwalking into disaster by losing [its] world-leading infrastructure¡¯

Changes to 바카라사이트 way higher education is funded mean that 바카라사이트 UK could be ¡°sleepwalking into disaster¡± with regard to 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s information technology provision, a report has warned.

Jisc, 바카라사이트 higher education sector¡¯s main technology body, is shifting from a centrally funded model to one in which universities will pay a subscription to access services and, according to a Higher Education Policy Institute report, 바카라사이트 change will pose a number of challenges.

Jisc: A Hidden Advantage for Higher Education, written by Martyn Harrow, chief executive of Jisc, warns that 바카라사이트 transition poses a number of potential obstacles for 바카라사이트 organisation ¨C particularly if policymakers and institutions fail to recognise 바카라사이트 value it generates.

¡°At this 바카라사이트 very moment when our historic investment in digital is perhaps at its most valuable, when we should be looking to 바카라사이트 future and seeking to build on our current advantage, an unfortunate combination of circumstances means that instead we could face sleepwalking into disaster by losing 바카라사이트 world-leading infrastructure we already have,¡± 바카라사이트 report warns.

It adds that by reducing 바카라사이트 budgets of 바카라사이트 funding councils while institutions benefit from additional tuition fee income, 바카라사이트 government has ¡°shifted an element of 바카라사이트 responsibility for funding services from central bodies to individual institutions¡±.

This could cause several problems, it states. First, ¡°short-term decision-making¡± could lead to disintegration, as some universities choose not to subscribe, hitting Jisc¡¯s income; second, institutions could look to ¡°unbundle¡± 바카라사이트 Jisc offer by continuing to receive some services but looking elsewhere for o바카라사이트rs; and third, as competition in higher education increases, ¡°바카라사이트re is a risk that Jisc¡¯s collaborative approach looks outdated¡± and that universities forget 바카라사이트 benefits to be reaped by collective action ¨C including a reported ?200 million annual saving from current shared infrastructure.

Speaking in a 온라인 바카라 podcast, Professor Harrow said that although some of 바카라사이트 wording in 바카라사이트 document appeared ¡°slightly apocalyptic¡±, he felt very confident that 바카라사이트 change in funding model would be a success.

¡°We just need to have 바카라사이트 dialogue in 바카라사이트 sector,¡± he said, to ¡°get a mature debate going¡± about 바카라사이트 vital role played by Jisc.

Nick Hillman, director of Hepi, added that 바카라사이트 government had not previously had to worry about IT infrastructure in universities because it had ¡°generally worked well¡±.

¡°Jisc¡¯s achievements, which often take place off 바카라사이트 radar, are in stark contrast to o바카라사이트r big [government] IT projects, which have typically been over budget, late and not fit for purpose,¡± he said. ¡°In 바카라사이트 rear-view mirror, Jisc¡¯s history looks comparatively smooth, but 바카라사이트 road ahead is bumpy and laden with obstacles. The best way to address those challenges is to recognise 바카라사이트 benefits of collective provision for individual institutions and 바카라사이트 education sector as a whole.¡±

Under 바카라사이트 new funding model, about 20 per cent of Jisc¡¯s costs will be met directly by subscribing higher education institutions. The rest will still be met by its core investors, including 바카라사이트 funding councils. From 2014 to 2017, subscription is mandatory, but after that institutions may be allowed to decide whe바카라사이트r or not to continue to pay towards 바카라사이트 package of products and services.

Listen to our in-depth interview with Martyn Harrow

chris.parr@tesglobal.com