Regional Support Centres Core Remit
The JISC Regional Support Centres exist to support learning providers as identified by their respective funding bodies, and to help them to realise their ambitions in deployment of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in order to achieve their organisational mission. The network of JISC Regional Support Centres will operate as a national service responsive to local needs through a strong sense of local ownership.
Specifically, Regional Support Centres will:
- Support learning providers as identified by their respective funding bodies, in the development of e-learning capacity in the region by:
- Providing guidance on provider infrastructure and systems development;
- Identifying ICT staff development needs and then facilitating the delivery of activities to meet these needs;
- Enabling curriculum staff to exploit the potential of ICT in the learning process through identification, provision and access to appropriate resources and approaches;
- Directing providers to appropriate sources of strategic, managerial, technical and other specialist advice;
- Promote development of support networks amongst providers.
- Act as a two-way, prime communication link between JISC and learning providers as identified by their respective funding bodies by:
- Operating as the first point of contact on behalf of JISC within a region, except in the case of JANET connection faults;
- Supporting the implementation of the JISC Strategy;
- Disseminating information about appropriate JISC services and resources and supporting their use;
- Providing feedback to JISC on institutional needs with respect to ICT, in particular the suitability of existing services and resources and the need for additional ones.
- Work in partnership with regional and national agencies to gain maximum value from support activity by:
- Acting within a co-ordinated framework of support to providers;
- Establishing and maintaining appropriate partnerships to further the RSC remit;
- Enabling institutions to exploit opportunities available through regional and national initiatives.
- Operate within a defined financial and performance framework through:
- Adherence to financial arrangements agreed with JISC;
- Provision of reports to RSC UK Office;
- Striving to continually improve quality of service.
The Core Remit will be subject to review on an annual basis by the RSC Board with proposed changes subject to consultation. The RSC Board will consult with funding bodies and other RSC stakeholders if major changes are required to the Core Remit. RSCs may engage in activities beyond this core remit with the approval of the RSC Board who will assess impact of additional activity on delivery of this remit.
The JISC is an advisory committee to the funding councils of HE and FE within the UK and as such JISC/RSC activity will take place within the context of national ICT strategies and priorities.
The term ‘provider’ is used throughout this document to refer to ‘learning provider’. This is a generic term that includes institution, college, local authority, private training provider, Ufi hub or any other organisation funded to provide learning opportunities. RSCs support those providers identified by their funding bodies, and agreed within the MoU processes with lead institutions.