The further education sector has been under-investing in its digital and IT infrastructure and undermining its ability to provide a modern education, according to Jisc.
The not-for-profit technology provider to further and higher education has published the result of research carried out as part of an infrastructure review, using data collected from individual reviews of colleges between 2016 and 2020.
It follows a warning to the sector in September that it needs to address significant problems to support a shift to more remote learning.
Jisc said its research has shown that many colleges are struggling with old equipment that is not fit for purpose, poor connectivity and a lack of skilled IT staff.
Some of the challenges are down to funding, with many systems continuing to operate beyond their end-of-support dates.
Bandwidth problem
Others are down to a lack of bandwidth for using software-as-a-service such as calendars and email most effectively, and which provides one of the most serious single points of failure in an IT infrastructure.
Jisc said that in response to this colleges should ensure that their connection the national Janet network for higher and further education should be upgraded to at least 1Gbps.
Another serious concern is the low ration of IT support staff to users, standing at one in 814, which Jisc is too high to ensure a good quality IT organisation.
It points out that in the majority of colleges an IT skills shortage of some kind has been reported, often because there has been no recent technical training.
But it adds that there are some highly dedicated IT professionals supporting further education.
Insufficient investment
Rboin Ghurbhurun, Jisc’s managing director of further education and skills, said: “The Government’s announcement of 19 August that it had released £200 million for 180 colleges to spend on physical and digital infrastructure is welcome, but is not enough to solve the underlying digital challenges caused by years of under-investment.”
The report says that improvements are possible and that some colleges are already in a good position, especially if they have a chief technology or information officer in place.
Ghurbhurun added: “With leadership, resource and careful planning, colleges have shown they can position themselves at the leading edge and deliver future proofed education and skills.”
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