TERENA COMPENDIUM - Géant

TERENA Compendium of National Research and Education Networks In Europe /Tasks, Staffing, Funding4.2 StaffingSince many NRENs use subcontractors, staff size is not a reliable measure of theamount of person-power that is available to an NREN. Therefore, this sectiongives an overview of the staff that is directly employed in NREN activities, plussubcontracted staff, in Full Time Equivalents (FTE).Graph 4.2.3 provides that information specifically for technical staff.As in previous years, there are considerable differences in the number of staffemployed by NRENs, and their skill set.One explanation is that in some NRENs, the research network is provided asa service by a parent organisation; it is not possible for all those NRENs togive a specific estimate of the non-technical staff time devoted to the NRENfunctions (e.g., accounting, personnel, etc.). This helps to explain why someNRENs have a high proportion of technical staff to total staff.In addition, it should be noted that the tasks performed by individualNRENs are very different. Some NRENs, for example, provide connection tometropolitan area networks or to access networks, which in turn connect theinstitutions. Other NRENs connect institutions directly and some also manageMetropolitan Area Networks themselves. The connection policies of NRENs(see section 2.2) are different, for example with respect to secondary andprimary schools, which affects the remit of the NREN. This also explains someof the differences seen in the graphs.Finally, some NRENs provide support to individual end users at institutions,some provide limited customer support and many have service levels that aresomewhere in between. This would have a significant effect on staff levels.84