Jisc revises funding model

Jisc, the UK charity which provides digital services for education and research, is writing to UK universities to outline proposed refinements to the organisation’s funding model.

Since the publication of Sir Alan Wilson’s review of Jisc in February 2011 the organisation says that it has enhanced its integration with the sector to deliver products and services developed around its needs. 'With the balance of higher education funding moving from grants to subscriptions, Jisc funding needs to evolve similarly. The changes mean that Jisc’s existing subscription model for the Janet network will be refined, with the proposed change coming into effect from the start of the academic year 2014-15,' said Jisc.

Martyn Harrow, Jisc chief executive noted that, 'Jisc’s funding has decreased over the past few years and will continue to do so. We have made efficiency improvements meaning that Jisc will absorb the majority of these financial reductions without threatening any of the core services on which the sector depends. We are currently writing to all higher education institutions setting out details of these changes and the implications for their 2014-15 budgets. There should be minimal change in the further education and skills sectors, and we will be communicating in due course to clarify the position for this sector.'