Publication Date: 7 February 2007
Related Programmes: e-Learning Frameworks and Tools programme, e-Framework programme
The e-Framework is a major international initiative,
undertaken by JISC and partner organisations, and is designed to provide a
means by which education organisations can ensure that the components of
their IT systems work together, or interoperate, and that their development
is driven by strategic need rather than by purely technical considerations
or short term expediency.The benefits of such an
approach are potentially significant in terms of better value for money
when purchasing or developing IT systems, the increased ability of
organisations to adapt, to change their systems to meet changing priorities
and to plan effectively.
The initiative begins from the premise that what is wanted
from IT systems is not ‘monolithic applications’ and ‘information silos’,
but flexible ‘services’ – such as email, library catalogues and circulation
systems, management information, registries, calendars, access management
and a host of other specialist functions – that can be easily configured to
provide improved capabilities and re-configured to meet changing needs. The
e-Framework is attempting to define these components and explain how they
might be bought, developed and deployed separately – and yet fit together
with each other and with existing applications.
This, in short, is the ‘service-oriented approach’, an
approach that’s being increasingly adopted across all sectors and one which
JISC and partners in the e-Framework initiative are exploring in terms of
its applicability to education and research. The benefits of such an
approach are potentially significant in terms of better value for money
when purchasing or developing IT systems, the increased ability of
organisations to adapt, to change their systems to meet changing priorities
and to plan effectively.
But communicating what the service oriented approach is,
how its benefits can be realised and how it departs from earlier
approaches, isn’t always straightforward. The problem of IT jargon doesn’t
help either.
A new animation, developed by JISC, addresses this issue by
providing, in a straightforward, non-technical and entertaining way, the
key elements of a service oriented approach and its application to
education and research. It ends by introducing the international
e-Framework initiative, and how it seeks to support colleges and
universities.
To find out more and to view the animation, please go to:
e-Framework
animation