Sustainability
Sustainability is an essential part of the long term plans of many projects and programmes. The capacity to identify and exploit opportunities for continued provision and support without renewed calls on grant funding is an important element of any project. Aspects include:
- Effective facilitation
- Event organisation
- Identifying chargeable services and appropriate business models
- End user marketing
- Partnerships
- Coaching/mentoring
- Building a platform - preparing the sector for future activity
- Innovative use of technology such as Web2.0 to help provide sustainable outputs and support
Embedding Outputs in Staff Development Programmes
Outputs from many JISC projects and programmes may have relevance to core topics of general interest to the sector. Institutions have staff development needs and budgets, and channels exist to inform the sector of what staff development opportunities are available. Whilst it is not practical or appropriate to attempt to cover every JISC project in existing events or resources, several key elements form the process for embedding outputs:
- Programme team highlighting successful projects, good practice and quality outputs
- Identification of wider issues of general interest - a targeted theme with known user demand
- Synthesis of relevant outputs
- Integration into staff development programme
Example: The TOIA Project
The TOIA Project from the e-Learning (eXchange for Learning) programme developed a tool for using standards based content for e-assessment. Well received within the community as pilots, this tool was identified as having wider potential and longevity. The theme of e-assessment tools and techniques was adopted, and a programme designed incorporating a range of issues including the benefits of standards and the different types of tools available. TOIA was featured as one of the example tools, with access given to participants to gain practical experience of using the tool.
Example: Sustainable delivery
Advisory Service JISCinfoNet ran a programme of Project Management for Education workshops, well received within the sector. Demand was evident for further delivery of workshops, and it was considered to be a topic justifying a paying audience. Using the content developed by JISCinfoNet, and expert trainers involved in the original programme, Netskills began managing a pilot programme of events, leading to a more regular series of workshops, self funding through workshop fees, delivered across the country as both a national programme and onsite workshops on request.