Technology: TNE s silent partner? Future global needs: Connectivity isn t just digital William Lawton Saskia Jensen Goldsmiths, University of London RCPCH, London 11 March 2015 1
EAIE Forum Summer 2014
2014: Observatory commissioned by Janet (now Jisc) Future global connectivity and service needs of UK higher education Because: Increasing demands for services abroad Strategic planning for TNE growth rather than ad hoc-ery Learning how decisions on IT requirements are made in TNE planning
Two components to the research: Focus groups Online survey of whole HE sector Focus groups Bristol, Edinburgh, London, Manchester 6-10 participants from IT services and International Offices in each group. designed to get a snapshot of the current situation in the sector And guidance on the most advantageous questions to put in the online survey
Online survey Designed by OBHE in collaboration with Jisc and hosted by i- graduate software Again, targeted at two distinct groups: IO and IT staff Sent to 308 individuals at 154 UUK and GuildHE institutions 38% response rate; 84 HEIs
Two ways of categorising TNE delivery modes Value of TNE to the UK report categories Partnership modes o Franchising o Validation o Flying faculty o Top-up programmes o Twinning arrangements o Joint or double degrees o Articulation HESA Aggregate Offshore Record categories Overseas partner institution Distance, flexible and distributed learning (includes online) Other, including collaborative provision International branch campus Online and distance learning International branch campuses
UK TNE provision by delivery modes (HESA aggregate offshore record categories) Type of provision 2010-11 2011-12 Overseas partner institution 291,575 342,910 Distance, flexible and distributed learning 113,065 116,535 (includes online) Other, incl collaborative provision 86,630 96,075 International branch campus 12,305 15,145 Source: HESA, via HEGlobal website
Jisc categories for online survey Online, blended and/or distance learning, including MOOCs International partnership entirely dependent on infrastructure provided by an overseas HEI partner International partnership operated jointly with an overseas HEI partner International branch campus other
Which of the following broad delivery modes of TNE is your HEI currently engaged in? (YELLOW) n= 90 In which modes of TNE are you most likely to commence or intensify your activities? (BLUE) n = 41 Online provision, blended and/or distance learning, including MOOCs 59% 54% International partnership entirely dependent on infrastructure provided by an overseas HEI partner International partnership operated jointly with an overseas HEI partner 37% 33% 32% 73% Other 7% 12% Don't know International branch campus 7% 11% 10% 10% Currently none 9% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Future TNE activities Current TNE activities
What is the network currently used for in terms of TNE activity? (n = 85) IO staff IT staff Access to library system in UK 56% 38% E-mail/web browsing 54% 51% General internet access 48% 30% Access to registration system in UK 46% 35% Access to online courses hosted in UK 42% 46% Management meetings 40% 30% Access to exam system in UK 27% 19% Don t know 23% 24% Other 17% 14%
Who is involved in the development of TNE/international activities at your institution? Academic staff International office staff PVC 54% 71% 70% 79% 82% 93% Vice-chancellor 50% 54% Other 8% 34% Registrar 29% 32% Governing body 17% 30% IT staff Chief Financial Officer 21% 25% 30% 27% Chief Operating Officer 20% 25% Chief Information Officer 16% 21% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% International Office (n=44) IT-related/Techical (n=24)
Who makes the decisions on future TNE/international activities at your institution? Vice-chancellor PVC Academic staff International Office staff Governing body Other Registrar Chief Financial Officer Chief Operating Officer Chief Information Officer IT staff 2% 4% 8% 17% 13% 13% 11% 17% 22% 24% 33% 38% 42% 42% 46% 46% 54% 56% 71% 71% 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 International Office (n=45) IT-related/Techical (n=24)
As far as you are aware, for each of the following IT or data-related issues, please indicate which problem has been encountered. (n = 21, IT only) More than half said don t know. Next most frequent responses: o Poor network performance, eg, slow response o Protection of copyright data and intellectual property o Integration of IT with partner institutions Not selected by any IT respondents: o Insufficient system support from network provider o Contractual agreements on IT provisions with partner institutions o Predatory pricing by local providers o Procurement cycles (international procurement issues)
What other services/support would you consider to be beneficial from Janet in relation to your TNE activities? (n = 49)
What would influence your decision to involve Janet in your current and future TNE activities? (n = 54) IT-related/ Technical (n=21) International Office (n=33) All (n=54) Janet's reputation 70% 74% 81% Quality of network provision 64% 71% 67% Cost 58% 67% Trusted advisor 39% 44% 52% 61% Risk Management 24% 37% 45% Other services and products 5% 7% 9% Other 5% 6% 6% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
% of IT staff who don t know 45% how TNE is delivered at their institution, 38% their own network arrangements for partnerships abroad, 44% if network requirements and responsibilities are included in partnership agreements, 24% which aspects of TNE their network is used for, 19% if their institution manages its own IT operations abroad, 31% if their institution has procured connectivity from an ISP provider other than Janet, 52% which data-related problems have been encountered, 57% if their institutional risk assessments include IT infrastructure.
Connectivity isn t just digital: communication gaps to overcome Many IT staff are unaware of TNE activities at their institutions But much interest and willingness to work with Jisc Real-time delivery of courses is a problem, and may interfere with TNE plans Demand for eduroam, videoconferencing and cloud services Branch campuses will be responsible for only a small portion of future connectivity demands from the sector, and they may be better planned in regard to connectivity needs Partnerships and online and distance activities will continue to be the bulk of TNE provision
Jisc has an opportunity to provide a forum for IO and IT staff to exchange ideas; workshop series perhaps Jisc to communicate importance of: network connectivity in supporting quality TNE delivery joining up internal processes at HEIs Jisc to provide a toolkit: with information for both IO and IT staff and as a feedback mechanism from HEIs requiring TNE support Jisc to consider repeating the online survey and extending it to the FE sector