11 December 2018
Jisc and Eduserv merger
Jisc and Eduserv began operating as one on 1 January 2019, in a move that will retain existing staff and services. The new organisation’s collective expertise will provide technological support to more than 20 million users.
For members and customers, there will be a greater range of services to choose from with Chest, OpenAthens and Eduserv Cloud Solutions creating a portfolio of services with Jisc’s current offer. Besides its portfolio of more than 100 products and services, Jisc operates the national research and education network, Janet, and has a staff of more than 620 principally in London, Manchester, Harwell and Bristol. Eduserv has 100 Bristol-based employees and focusses on digital transformation, identity and access management, licensing and cloud solutions.
The 220 Jisc staff at its central Bristol office will stay in situ until refurbishment is complete at Eduserv’s building in the city, forecasted to be completed in autumn 2019. Jisc and Eduserv will keep their individual identities and websites after 1 January 2019, although in time, the new entity will be brought together under the Jisc brand.
HESA Jisc integration
Jisc is also currently in discussion with HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) regarding the intention to integrate the two organisations more closely. Combined, the two organisations believe that their complementary strengths can provide better services to the sector, help to manage subscriptions and enhance the impact of higher education in the UK.
Conversations are at an early stage and the detail needs to be worked through. This includes consulting with key stakeholders, assessing what it means in reality for each organisation and, above all, ensuring the status of HESA as the designated data body is protected.
This collaboration builds on the recommendations of the 2017 Bell Review for sector agency consolidation and increased value for money. The two organisations are now seeing how, together, they can bring a stronger offer to their members through complementary capabilities and expertise in the collection, analysis, and use of data.