chapman23

Yes, but someone also has to pay for the work that goes into the bespoke "Export data as" button, or IMS Enterprise or numerous APIs. The benefit of using SIF is that the ZIS can be used to allow multiple applications (and institutions) to share data. Take a look at this presentation from an assistant head at one of the schools involved in the SIF Association. He illustrates a number of the benefits of implementing SIF: reductions in bureaucracy, improving the quality of data, improving data security, freeing up time for staff to teach, improving child safety etc. He also estimates that his school could save 400 hours a year on data management by implementing SIF. SIF can help improve data quality as you can enter data once into the MIS rather than having to retype the same info into every application and means you don't have to manually update every app when some info changes. Rather than relying on Census to cleanse data, it would be better to have processes in place to ensure data is up to date, relevant and accurate. Becta's Information Management Strategy Framework may be helpful in doing this :-)

SIF can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. A Zone Integration Server can handle the asynchronous transfer of data between applications in a school or college, between institutions (for 14-19, or potentially to replace CTF) and for vertical interoperability from schools to LAs or the Department for Education (as a potential replacement for Census?). With more and more suppliers joining the SIF Association and implementing SIF in their existing products, or using third party agents to ensure interoperability, we are not too far off a situation where heads and data managers can easily transfer data into their existing tools. A list of SIF products currently available in the UK can be found on the SIF Association website. SIF is driven by its members, with new developments coming from teaching staff and data managers via a number of working groups. Version 1.3 of the SIF Specification is almost at the end of a 30 day consultation period (closing tomorrow!) so if anyone wants to provide any feedback, please email penny.murray at becta.org.uk

The SIF Association UK newsletter can be found at http://www.sifinfo.org/uk/upload/press/B6E2ZD_SIFAssociationUK_Newsletter_Issue_14_June2010.pdf

Just to reassure everyone, despite the forthcoming closure of Becta, the Systems Interoperability Framework will continue, as the SIF Association is a non-profit membership organisation. There is a press release explaining this in the latest SIF Association UK newsletter: The SIF Association UK, through the leadership of Becta, has become an efficient, widespread and self-sustaining organisation in the UK. While the new UK government announced the closure of Becta, the SIF Association UK will continue with the community membership continuing to manage the critical work ahead. The elected Management Board of the SIF Association UK continues to drive the vision and strategy of interoperability in the UK.