UK higher education virtual shopping mall to be developed
Higher education funding and representative bodies are working in partnership to set up a virtual shopping mall which will provide information to a wide range of users worldwide about the rich diversity of higher education in the United Kingdom. Representatives from 25 organisations with an interest in higher education agreed at a meeting earlier this month that a steering group should be set up to develop the project.
The meeting, chaired by Brian Fender, Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, was called to consider the findings of a scoping study carried out by the Cambridge-based consultants Segal Quince Wicksteed (SQW) and Oakland Consultancy who examined the demand for and feasibility of establishing this project. Users consulted in the study included sixth formers and their advisers, mature students, industry and commerce, overseas organisations as well as the higher education community.
The study found that the rationale for establishing a single internet site for UK higher education was sound and would add value. A single site had the capacity to widen access and increase opportunity by:
- improving search facilities and navigation through a currently fragmented landscape
- increasing traffic through existing sites
- enabling providers to offer a better service from market and search behaviour information
- promoting UK higher education internationally
- creating a market place, leading to new synergies and opportunities
- encouraging collaboration between universities, colleges and other partners
- providing an interface with other national initiatives such as the University for Industry.
Those consulted in the study favoured a site which would be set up and maintained in a way which was not heavily dependent on new content development. It would also need to receive support from existing providers rather than challenge their current market position. The report concluded: 'We detect willingness and enthusiasm from the HE community for this exciting concept to be implemented, and it provides both an opportunity and a challenge to those who can take it forward to ensure that the momentum is maintained'.
Participants in the study suggested that the concept of a virtual shopping mall would offer greatest scope to users and information providers for presenting the diversity of higher education in the UK. The consultants developed this model which would involve higher education organisations and institutions occupying sites in the mall, with the mall developers responsible for shared facilities and maintenance.
In terms of layout the Mall would offer shared services in a reception area where visitors can consult a helpdesk, access a route-finder, or look up details in the mall directory. There would also be a resource centre including library, lecture theatre, employment centre, meeting rooms and news room. From the reception area visitors would be assisted in finding the information they needed from sites in thematic zones, covering, for example, institutions, subjects, funding and finance, research, higher education management and policy, international and a commercial zone.
The next stage is to set up a pilot project which will be commissioned by partners though a steering group and developed through the 1998-99 academic year. It is intended that a fully live service catering for a wide range of users should be available from September 1999 in time for the millennium.
The HEFCE has offered to provide part of the funding for the development of the pilot, and other potential partners have expressed an interest. The scoping study was commissioned by JISC* and was supported by a range of bodies, including the UK higher education funding bodies, UCAS, CVCP, SCOP the QAA and the British Council.
For further information please contact Roger Grinyer at the HEFCE on 0117 931 7307, (e-mail r.grinyer@hefce.ac.uk) or Norman Wiseman, JISC Head of Programmes on 0115 951 4799 (e-mail nw@wpo.itss.nerc.ac.uk).
*The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) is an advisory committee of the UK higher education funding bodies and provides network infrastructure and electronic services to UK higher education institutions and the Research Councils.
Last updated 12 February 2003