Collaboration and shared services forum – Loughborough, 22 April 2015
Loughborough University hosts a forum on collaboration and shared services in higher education on Wednesday 22 April 2015. Aimed at senior business managers, the event explores what UK universities could learn from the global efficiency agenda.
Sharing made easy – Jisc support for equipment sharing
From anechoic chambers to wind tunnels, mass spectrometers to supercomputers, institutions are increasingly looking to share high value items of research equipment. Martin Hamilton outlines how Jisc is working with a variety of partners to help embed and accelerate asset sharing.
Jisc: more than just a network provider
Jisc’s Janet network has provided connectivity for the higher education sector for more than 30 years. But as Dan Perry explains, Jisc offers far more than simply a network and is just one of the services provided to save time and money for the sector.
Developing and supporting a sharing culture
Collaboration has led to efficiencies in areas such as procurement and shared services, but it can be a challenge to embed this culture. The University of Nottingham’s Paul Greatrix shares his experiences of a successful collaboration with the University of Birmingham.
New Hefce-funded project models costs and benefits of sharing services
The shared services delivery partner of Falmouth University and the University of Exeter is starting work on an exciting new project to measure, analyse and model the costs and benefits of collaboration between UK higher education institutions. Project manager Simon Perks tells us more.
HE Shared Legal invites potential subscribers to seminar
A shared legal service for the higher education sector is holding an information seminar in London on 10 March for potential subscriber institutions to learn more about its work. HE Shared Legal currently delivers services to 18 subscriber institutions, including advising on employment, contract, procurement, governance, corporate and charity law.
Our first year as a cost sharing group
The Kingston City Group (KCG) Consortium, which provides internal audit and management assurance needs to higher education institutions in London and the south east, was the first fully-operational cost saving group in the sector. KCG’s managing director Maria Vetrone shares some of the experiences from its first year of operation.
Shared WiFi network reaches more than half a million devices in October
eduroam – the worldwide single sign-on secure network which provides WiFi connectivity access for education and research – reached more than 600,000 devices in the UK last month. The service, provided by Jisc, aims to save time for the individual and money for member organisations as users can connect to WiFi without needing to sort out guest credentials or change settings.
Cost sharing group’s VAT claim rejected by tax tribunal
A cost sharing group (CSG) recently had its claim for VAT repayment rejected on appeal. Neil Hunter of HE Shared Legal explains the importance for CSGs of following guidance closely and keeping good records.
RESULTS: territorial or communal – which tribe are you?
The Times Higher Education recently quoted a report by a Dutch University, which claimed that universities could reduce estate footprint by 25% if staff become less “territorial” and shared teaching and office space with colleagues in other departments.
