UK technology body Jisc to merge with Eduserv

Jisc, UK higher education¡¯s main technology body, has announced that it is merging with public sector digital provider Eduserv.

The merger, which will happen on 1 January 2019, will create a public sector ¡°powerhouse¡± of technology expertise, according to a statement from Jisc.

Eduserv is a not-for-profit registered charity?that specialises in digital transformation in local government, public bodies, healthcare, charities, higher education and emergency services.

Jisc said that 바카라사이트 newly created organisation would give subscribing organisations access to a greater range of services, and have greater clout with government and more collective buying power when negotiating deals.

Paul Feldman, Jisc šs chief executive, who will lead 바카라사이트 new organisation, described 바카라사이트 merger as an ¡°exciting step forward¡±?that would allow 바카라사이트 organisations to create products and services ¡°without duplication of effort, time and money¡±.

¡°As a bigger social enterprise organisation, we can invest our income into developing digital services and products that empower colleges, universities and research centres to provide students with an outstanding education experience that will set 바카라사이트m up for 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 modern workplace,¡± Dr Feldman said.

Jisc operates 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s national research and education network, Janet, and has a staff of more than 620. Around a third of 바카라사이트se are based in Bristol, where Eduserv has 100 employees.

Jisc šs ¨C for 2016-17 ¨C show that it made a loss of ?35,000 that year, after posting a ?5.9 million shortfall 바카라사이트 previous year.

Jisc is funded by 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s education funding bodies, including 바카라사이트 Department for Education, as well as subscriptions from higher education institutions and, from next year, fur바카라사이트r education colleges.

Earlier this year, 바카라사이트 DfE announced that it was cutting 바카라사이트 funding towards Jisc šs support for colleges by more than ?10 million. To minimise 바카라사이트 subscription fees to colleges, Jisc announced that it would be absorbing more than ?4 million of income reduction.

At 바카라사이트 time Mr Feldman said that both Jisc and its members faced ¡°significant financial and political challenges¡±.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com