Following a brief break, during which I got my Wi-Fi access sorted (I should have done this first thing, but got chatting to someone instead).
I’m attending a session on the Strategic Content Alliance with speakers from Ithaka, the BBC and also Naomi Korn, who is a IPR consultant.
Stuart Dempster is opening the session introducing the Strategic Content Alliance, the rationale of which is ‘seamless access’, which they see as fundamental to lifelong learning. Reflecting on the stages of lifelong learning – pre-school, school, university, workplace, leisure etc.
There are a wide variety of access agreements, linked to different content, different organisations and different geographical areas. The SCA is developing the ‘UK Content Framework’ due to be delivered in spring 2009, providing a single point to find information about access to content.
There are two tiers of membership to the SCA – the first tier requires payment, and allows you to sit on the board etc. The second tier is ‘aligned organisations’ which requires the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding – missed what this brings as benefit though!
Stuart has just mentioned the SCA blog, which is at http://sca.jiscinvolve.org/
The SCA aims to build on a ‘common information environment’ underpinned by a framework of principles and good practices. Empasis on real world exemplars that are economically viable.
In the UK SCA has identified a nmber of change agents:
- Common licensing platforms
- Common Middleware
- Digital Repositories
- Mass Digitisation
- Devolved administrations
- Service convergence
- UK Government policy reviews – e.g. SCA made a joint submission to the UK IPO consultation
- Funding
The SCA will deliver the UK e-Content Framework comprising:
- E-Content Policy and Procedures
- E-Content ‘Service Convergence’ modelling
- E-Content Exchange (interoperability) model development
- E-Content Audit and Register
- E-Content Audience analysis and modelling
- E-Content Support and Embedding
- Business Models and sustainability strategies
- E-Content Advocacy Dissemination and Policy Development
- E-Content Standards and Good Practices
It’s early days I guess for the SCA, and difficult to know how much of what comes out will be really useful. However, I think the joint submission to the Gower’s Review (http://sca.jiscinvolve.org/files/2008/04/sca_gowers_joint_dec.doc) is a sign that this initiative will have some concrete benefits.