JISC Digest Issue 1
JISC Digest Issue 1
JISC Digest Issue 1
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
equired infrastructure to make this vision a reality.<br />
In support of the ten-year framework, the Office of<br />
Science and Technology has established six working<br />
groups to investigate future requirements in key<br />
areas of e-infrastructure. <strong>JISC</strong> is represented on all<br />
of these groups and chairs the Middleware and<br />
Virtual Research Communities groups. The working<br />
groups will report in April 2006 and these reports will<br />
help <strong>JISC</strong> prioritise e-Infrastructure activities using<br />
2004 Spending Review funds while also informing<br />
priorities for future rounds. <strong>JISC</strong>'s work in this area<br />
is also undertaken in liaison with the research<br />
councils, the British Library, the Research<br />
Information Network, the e-Science Core<br />
Programme and others.<br />
New Visualisation service<br />
A new Visualisation Support Network (VizNet) will<br />
pool the expertise of key visualisation centres in UK<br />
universities. Visualisation is already providing a<br />
rich tool for researchers in the UK and this<br />
visualisation service will tap into existing expertise<br />
whilst supporting other universities to exploit the<br />
potential of visualisation in their research activities.<br />
<strong>JISC</strong> has allocated funding for the Visualisation<br />
Support Network over the next three years to<br />
centres based at Loughborough University and<br />
King's College London to provide a focal point for<br />
sharing knowledge and best practice as well as<br />
training in advanced visualisation techniques.<br />
__________<br />
3. e-Learning<br />
HEFCE's e-learning strategy<br />
HEFCE's e-learning strategy, published in 2005,<br />
aims at supporting the sector as it moves towards<br />
embedding e-learning as a 'normal' part of its<br />
practices and processes. The strategy calls on <strong>JISC</strong><br />
to work closely with the Higher Education Academy<br />
to implement key aspects of the strategy and<br />
HEFCE has made additional funds available to both<br />
organisations (£12m to <strong>JISC</strong> and £8m to the<br />
Academy) to achieve shared objectives and to work<br />
with regional and subject communities to use ICT<br />
to support learning and teaching.<br />
Supporting student progression. <strong>JISC</strong> has been<br />
continuing its work with the Academy to create<br />
links between schools, colleges and universities<br />
through regional pilots to encourage progression<br />
into higher education. For further details:<br />
www.jisc.ac.uk/delpilots.html<br />
The Benchmarking and Pathfinder programmes.<br />
The e-learning benchmarking exercise which is<br />
being led by the Academy and supported by <strong>JISC</strong> is<br />
underway. Pilot projects will report in July 2006<br />
and, after a period of evaluation, will be followed by<br />
20 to 30 similar projects as well as the first<br />
Pathfinder projects, which will be based on issues<br />
and priorities raised during the pilot benchmarking<br />
projects.<br />
Other strands, especially 'Learning resources and<br />
networked learning' and 'Infrastructure and<br />
technical standards', which are being taken<br />
forward through <strong>JISC</strong>'s core and capital<br />
programmes, will be supported by the Academy<br />
and will fully utilise the highly effective and wellestablished<br />
dissemination routes provided by the<br />
Academy's subject centres, and it is hoped, the<br />
Academy's CETLs (Centres for Excellence in<br />
Teaching and Learning).<br />
A partnership board, made up of senior<br />
representatives of <strong>JISC</strong> and the Academy, meets<br />
regularly to ensure that the challenges of<br />
implementing the strategy are being effectively met.<br />
__________<br />
4. Middleware<br />
Shibboleth<br />
<strong>JISC</strong> is currently preparing FE and HE institutions<br />
for the launch of its UK Access Management<br />
Federation in September 2006. Institutions will be<br />
invited to join the UK Federation and to adopt the<br />
Shibboleth technology, which will provide<br />
institutions with a route to single sign-on to<br />
resources through the implementation of federated<br />
authentication.<br />
Briefings are available at:<br />
www.jisc.ac.uk/publications<br />
In addition to these briefings, <strong>JISC</strong> is also<br />
undertaking a range of other activities to support<br />
institutions in adopting Shibboleth, including: the<br />
creation of a support service to provide guidance,<br />
training and advice (www.matu.ac.uk); funding for a<br />
number of 'early adopters'; adding Shibboleth<br />
compliance to <strong>JISC</strong>-funded services provided at the<br />
national data centres, and the development of a<br />
gateway so that Shibboleth institutions will be able to<br />
access Athens-protected resources, and vice versa.<br />
For further information, please go to:<br />
www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=programme_<br />
middleware