31-678: Jisc is a United Kingdom not-for-profit organisation that provides network and IT services and digital resources in support of further and higher education and research, as well as the public sector. Its head office is based in Bristol with offices in London , Manchester , and Oxford . Its current CEO is Heidi Fraser-Krauss , who joined in September 2021 from the University of Sheffield . The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC)
62-462: A JISC Board, advised by a steering committee made up of senior officers from each funding body. Six sub-committees fell under two main heads: strategy and policy committees, which aimed to ensure that the needs of specific communities were met (in the fields of research, learning and teaching, and management); and functional committees, concentrating on specific areas of work (networking, information environment, and content acquisition). In January 2005,
93-426: A NPO as they are not formed explicitly for the public good as an NPO must be, and NFPOs are considered "recreational organizations", meaning that they do not operate with the goal of generating revenue as opposed to NPOs. An NFPO does not have the same obligation as an NPO to serve the public good, and as such it may be used to apply for tax-exempt status as an organization that serves its members and does not have
124-602: A national consortium for the UK academic community. The National Academic Mailing List Service, known as JiscMail , was, as of 2017, the UK's biggest educational and research email discussion list community. JiscMail is part of Jisc. JiscMail hosts over 9000 educational and research email mailing lists and in 2015 had over 1,500,000 unique subscribers. JiscMail uses LISTSERV mailing list software. JiscMail helps groups of individuals to communicate and discuss education/research interests using email discussion lists. JiscMail Helpline are
155-453: A package of services that the LSC would continue to contribute towards in the future. Also in 2005, a number of strategies and policies for UK Higher and Further Education were published, reaffirming the importance of ICT: JISC was seen as taking an important role in supporting and implementing these strategies. In the same year, JISC signed agreements with several international partners: Under
186-463: A subscription for services. In 2019 Jisc merged with Eduserv , another charity promoting IT in the public sector and in charities. The combined entity continues to be named Jisc, and is based at Eduserv's Bristol headquarters. In 2020 Jisc merged with HECSU , a careers information and advice service. In 2022 Jisc merged with HESA , the agency responsible for collection, analysis and dissemination of quantitative information about higher education in
217-437: Is a legal entity that does not distribute surplus funds to its members and is formed to fulfill specific objectives. An NFPO does not earn profit for its owners, as any revenue generated by its activities must be put back into the organization. While not-for-profit organizations and non-profit organizations (NPO) are distinct legal entities, the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. An NFPO must be differentiated from
248-520: Is administered by the HEA and has two separate strands providing individual awards – recognising individual excellence in teaching within the Higher Education sector – and awards for large-scale projects typically undertaken by Higher Education institutions over periods of up to three years. The journal Nanotechnology Perceptions expressed doubt about the ability of HEFCE to effectively regulate
279-774: Is funded by the UK HE Funding Councils (including HEFCE) and institutional subscriptions. It was established as the result of a merger of the Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (ILTHE), the Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN), and the TQEF National Co-ordination Team (NCT). HEFCE also funded a National Teaching Fellowship (NTF) scheme for those working in England and Northern Ireland . The initiative
310-463: Is necessary to refocus activities around clearer priorities, and to ensure JISC operates with a sustainable financial model". In 2012 JISC became an independent not-for-profit charity funded mainly by the government and universities. At this point it renamed itself Jisc . A cut in funding by the Department for Education in 2018 meant that Jisc had to start charging further education colleges
341-553: Is no comparable body to JISC within the UK, and internationally its reputation is outstanding as a strategic leader and partner. The Review concluded that "JISC is an invaluable national resource which has evolved in response to increasing demands over 20 years". However, the Review also recommended that, due to the breadth and complexity of JISC's activity, its structure, processes, projects, programmes and governance need to be simplified and reshaped: "[i]n an era of financial constraint, it
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#1732783223661372-431: Is perceived as a UK success story, providing a network of world-class standard and a range of excellent services. Importantly, it evolves continuously and is an excellent example of collaboration between the community and the funding bodies". However, Follett made various recommendations for reform, most of which were accepted by the funding bodies. A new structure was therefore put in place from December 2001, consisting of
403-639: The Charity Commission for England and Wales ) was their principal regulator. HEFCE therefore had the duty to promote compliance with charity law by the universities for which it was responsible. HEFCE was created by the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (which also created the Further Education Funding Council for England (FEFC), replaced in 2001 by the Learning and Skills Council ). On 1 June 2010 HEFCE became
434-555: The Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into full effect, giving the public a general right to access all types of recorded information held by public bodies. JISC took an important lead in raising the Act's profile in the academic community and published its own FOI Publication Scheme. In the spring of 2005, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) announced a reduction in its funding contribution to JISC. The LSC and JISC Executive negotiated
465-613: The In From The Cold: An assessment of the scope of "Orphan Works" and its impact on the delivery of services to the public . JISC stated this project had four goals: A review of JISC's work, commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England under the chairmanship of Sir Alan Wilson , was published in February 2011. One of the principal findings of the review was that there
496-644: The Northern Ireland Department of Education became a full partner in JISC. The organisation expanded again in 1999 when the further education funding bodies became funding partners. This expansion prompted a restructuring and a new set of committees: The expansion also raised wider concerns about JISC's governance, and Sir Brian Follett was appointed to carry out an independent enquiry. His report, published in November 2000, concluded that "JISC
527-603: The Government Spending Review 2004, JISC was awarded additional funding of £81 million for the period April 2006 to March 2009, and was able to launch a range of new programmes to support the work of the higher education and research community. Funding for SuperJANET5 was provided by all of its funding partners. Other activities were funded by the Higher Education Funding Councils for England and Wales. In 2009 JISC published
558-687: The Unistats website which includes the student satisfaction ratings for different universities and subjects. These satisfaction ratings are compiled from the National Student Survey, and the feedback from students is held within the Unistats website and allows students to compare subjects, universities and UCAS points, see satisfaction ratings from other students and see what the employment prospects are for graduate jobs by subject chosen. The Higher Education Academy (HEA), founded in May 2004,
589-562: The United Kingdom, which was responsible for the distribution of funding for higher education to universities and further education colleges in England since 1992. It ceased to exist as of 1 April 2018, when its duties were divided between the newly created Office for Students and Research England (operating within United Kingdom Research and Innovation ). Most universities are charities and HEFCE (rather than
620-512: The United Kingdom. In September 2022, Jisc agreed to a closer working relationship with UCISA . In August 2024, Jisc announced that it would cease all activity on each of its X accounts. Jisc explained that the move was taken due to "recent events that are incompatible with our values as an organisation". Jisc announced that it would keep its profiles on X to prevent any misuse of its identity but would not post any new content after 21 August 2024. Services offered by Jisc include: Jisc acts as
651-515: The administration of the charity' and has a memorandum of understanding with the Charity Commission that details how the two will work together. In addition to distributing both teaching and research funding to higher education institutions HEFCE was also involved with: widening participation ; developing links between higher education institutions and business and the community; and enhancing leadership, governance and management within
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#1732783223661682-612: The duty effectively, and reports findings back to providers and the Government on a regular basis. HEFCE administered the Register of Higher Education Providers, a searchable tool that shows how the Government regulates higher education providers in England. This is primarily a regulatory tool, which lists each provider's names and addresses, its powers and the standards it is required to meet, among other information useful to other regulators and Government agencies. HEFCE also owned
713-589: The functions of the Information Systems Committee (ISC) and the Computer Board, both of which had served universities. An initial challenge was to support a much larger community of institutions, including ex-polytechnics and higher education colleges . The new committee was initially supported by four sub-committees, covering Networking; Awareness, Liaison and Training; Electronic Information; and Technology Applications. In 1995,
744-602: The goal of generating profit. An example of this is a sports club , which exists for the enjoyment of its members and thus would function well as an NFPO, with revenue being re-invested into improving the organization. These organizations typically file for tax exemption in the United States under section 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code as social clubs. Common ventures for which NFPOs are established include: Charities, as NFPOs, function under
775-412: The premise that any revenue generated should be used to further their charitable missions rather than distribute profits among members. This revenue might come from donations, fundraising, or other activities undertaken to support their charitable cause. Higher Education Funding Council for England The Higher Education Funding Council for England ( HEFCE ) was a non-departmental public body in
806-681: The principal regulator of those higher education institutions in England that are 'exempt charities'. This followed the Charities Act 2006 , according to which all charities should be subject to regulation. The Higher Education and Research Act 2017 directed that HEFCE should be replaced by a new body, the Office for Students , also incorporating the Office for Fair Access (OFFA), but with HEFCE's research funding functions reassigned to UK Research and Innovation. HEFCE staff worked within six directorates. Leadership for these key strategic areas
837-546: The public to promote excellence and innovation in research, teaching and knowledge exchange'. It only funds the institutions and does not give grants or loans to individual students. It also helps develop and implement higher education policy, based on research and consultation. HEFCE was the legal 'principal regulator' for the many UK universities and colleges who are classed as exempt charities . HEFCE described its role as 'to promote compliance by charity trustees with their legal obligations in exercising control and management of
868-466: The sector. It provided both a contribution to core funding, and ring-fenced funding for special initiatives, projects and strategic aims. The Government delegated to HEFCE the responsibility for overseeing the Prevent duty , which obliged relevant higher education bodies to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. HEFCE monitored whether these bodies were carrying out
899-514: The team who provide information, advice, support and help to users of the service, from setting up new lists, to helping customers find lists, join lists, update their details. JiscMail became the National Mailing List Service as the successor to a previous service, Mailbase, in November 2000. Services previously offered by Jisc include: Not-for-profit A not-for-profit or non-for-profit organization ( NFPO )
930-497: Was established on 1 April 1993 under the terms of letters of guidance from the Secretaries of State to the newly established Higher Education Funding Councils for England , Scotland and Wales , inviting them to establish a Joint Committee to deal with networking and specialist information services. JISC was to provide national vision and leadership for the benefit of the entire Higher Education sector. The organisation inherited
961-650: Was shared between the Chief Executive and directors. The chief executive of HEFCE was Professor Madeleine Atkins (since 1 January 2014), previously Vice-Chancellor of the University of Coventry . Her predecessor, Sir Alan Langlands is now the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds . In 2017–2018 HEFCE allocated £3.5 billion in public funds from the UK Government to universities and colleges in England to 'invest on behalf of students and