JISC is the main sponsor and funder for EDINA and is in transition towards a simplified structure, reshaping its governance and processes in order to have effective policy control over its own staff, its companies and the activities of JISC-funded services based, like EDINA, in institutions. This is driven by the growing breadth and complexity of its activity and coincides with changed finance models for universities and colleges as well as restrictions in public spending.

The shared services initiated and managed by JISC have continued focus on quality and productivity; they are enablers for cost cutting and efficiency at a time in which academic institutions are working within much tighter funding constraints. As a trusted service provider, EDINA delivers on the strategic purposes of JISC in support of the sector.

During 2011-2012, we have reassessed our strategic context because of the significant changes happening in the sector and at JISC. We have had a determination to plan beyond the current uncertainties and have done this by having three forward planning horizons: business planning for 2012-2014; strategic objectives for 2014; and a 2020 vision.

Business planning for 2012 - 2014

Greater clarity is likely to be forthcoming during the remainder of academic year 2012-2013 on the roles of EDINA and other institution-based JISC services as a result of the JISC transition process. EDINA has mapped its planning horizons and duties to the JISC transition process, and we expect to be in discussion with JISC about functional and organisational roles during this year.

We expect academic year 2013-2014 to be a year of change implementation. It will also be the first year in which there will be a change in the charging models to fund JISC infrastructure, data and content, and futures/solutions services.

Strategic objectives for 2014

EDINA has identified 12 strategic objectives for 2014, along with actions and enabling measures. They will be included in EDINA’s Strategy for 2013-2016, to be published later in 2012.

2020 Vision

At the time of writing this Review, EDINA is still developing its vision and mission statement for 2020. This is work that will be done later in 2012-2013.

In the 2020 Vision, EDINA will describe its expectations for the environment at that time, the kind of organisation it will be by then, and the service streams it will be offering. EDINA’s 2013/16 Strategy is viewed as a ‘staging post’ on the way to 2020, as will be the rolling three-year strategies which follow that and lead up to 2020.