A greater focus on development projects to support the core functions of the JISC and the identification of a major theme for development funding each year. For 1999 this will be improved network management particularly in the areas of security, authentication and authorisation systems. A greater role in disseminating good practice and the development of a small advisory group to help institutions in their use of IT to support administrative applications. Finally the Strategy Review includes a short section on the possible expansion of JISC activities into further education and other communities. A summary of the new strategy recommendations can be found at Appendix II .
MANs encourage regional collaboration between HEIs often well beyond the IT area.
The purchase of a few high bandwidth international lines is more cost effective than multiple lower bandwidth lines. Considerable economies of scale could be enjoyed. Other networked constituencies could collaborate with HE to create a MAN, or purchase separate regional network provision, to meet at an appropriate node on the backbone. The JISC will continue to seek to reach a satisfactory licensing agreement with the DTI and OfTEL for MANs. Although of limited bandwidth, such access will stimulate the use of the Internet for teaching.