JISC

Start date: 1 May 2000

End date: 31 May 2001

Funding programme: JISC Organisational Support programme

Project website: http://www.citscapes.ac.uk/

JISC theme(s): e-Administration

The main product of this study, being led by the University of Glasgow, will be a report which presents an overview of practice throughout the UK, offers case studies from the UK and beyond, examines the main practical and strategic issues, offers a road map of future developments, and provides a conceptual framework through which discussion can continue; and a dissemination programme which will enable the issues to be brought to the attention of the whole UK FE and HE sectors. 

The work of the CITSCAPES project is now complete. The project team would like to thank all those who contributed to the research, and everyone who attended a dissemination event.  The final report is now avaliable below. 

Actions and Products of the Higher Education Phase   

A quantitative UK-wide survey was carried out in order to obtain information on a number of key issues and was designed to address strategic issues as well as practical considerations of C&IT induction provision. The analysis of the survey data allows an overview of current practice and future intentions to be presented. 

In order to add a qualitative dimension, a number of case studies were carried out. Five case study sites were selected in order to represent the range of types of HEI and of cross-institutional activity. The highly complex pictures that emerged provide examples across a range of institutional sizes and alternative approaches to student C&IT induction. 

A set of focus tools has been developed which will enable higher education institutions to: a) consider their position on development paths; b) focus on appropriate bundles of skills to be delivered; c) identify key factors to enable any desired transformation; and d) compare themselves with other institutions in the sector. In addition the developmental tools provide a perspective through which discussion of the issues can continue, and which will also help JISC and the funding bodies identify the main areas of strategic importance in this area. 

Other actions and products are development of a project website (http://www.citscapes.ac.uk), an on-line resource database and a news group about C&IT literacy. Dissemination workshops and an international conference in IT & Information Literacy were organised as part of the project. 

Actions and Products of the Further Education Phase   

An overview study was carried out gain a picture of overall relevant developments in the FE area across the whole UK. 

The survey involved questionnaires addressed to all UK FE colleges, based on the indicators developed from the first phase of the project with appropriate modifications to take into account different circumstances in the FE sector. This provided a detailed picture of practice of ICT/ILT skills provision. 

Four major case studies were undertaken, including colleges from all four UK countries in order to address the regional diversity of ICT/ILT skills provision. A number of smaller self-completed case studies complemented this activity, and enabled developments of particular interest to be presented. 

This quantitative and qualitative research has enabled the project to further develop and customise the focus tools for the FE sector.

Dissemination workshops were held, at which the results and toolkits were presented.