Videoconferencing for content providers Summary The Department for Education and Skills has provided MLA with funding to enable cultural sector organisations in England to connect to the National Education Network in order to provide videoconferencing sessions. A small number of grants, totalling £32,000 will be provided to cultural sector organisations that have already expressed an interest in providing videoconferencing sessions, but are currently unable to fund their connection to the NEN. The grant will support the capital costs of installing the connection, and revenue costs will be the on-going responsibility of the organisation. Applications are welcomed from cultural sector organisations whose applications are supported by a suitable educational organisation (eg, a Regional Broadband Consortium or BECTA) and who commit to offering a minimum of 20 videoconferencing session through the JANET Videoconferencing Service over a 12 month period. Introduction The 2006-2007 Standards Fund Guidance has confirmed that cultural sector organisations are part of the National Education Network (NEN) and that they have a particular contribution to make in the provision of videoconferencing content. However, many cultural sector organisations do not have the equipment or connectivity required in order to provide effective videoconferencing content, and in some may have consumer-level ADSL provision, or may be part of corporate networks of larger organisations. The costs of connecting to suitable broadband networks may also be very high for some organisations in rural or remote areas, which may be many times the costs in urban areas. This project aims to provide grant funding as an incentive to enable cultural sector institutions to connect to the NEN, and to support some of the direct capital costs involved. They will then be able to provide videoconferencing services through the JANET Videoconferencing Service (JVCS). National Education Network The National Education Network, links existing broadband infrastructure together, to provide access by schools in England to national content and services. The NEN has been developed by BECTA and the Regional Broadband Consortia (RBCs) using SuperJANET, the core of the JANET network that links HE, FE and research institutions throughout the UK. UKERNA manages and operates the JANET network. BECTA has the role of Network Management Authority for the NEN. The NEN enables students and teachers in schools, within and between local authorities, to access digital resources and videoconferencing services. RBCs are consortia of local education authorities (LEAs) that were originally established to procure cost-effective broadband connectivity for schools. They also have a role to link together to form a National Education Network in England and promote the development of content for broadband networks. RBCs, local authorities and content providers such as cultural sector organisations connecting to the NEN should ensure that they meet the criteria set out by BECTA to ensure optimum service and access available over the NEN. BECTA has developed extensive guidance on videoconferencing for schools and LEA audiences. In addition, BECTA is developing guidance on child protection issues in videoconferencing which will be relevant to successful applicants. Applicants must agree to the conditions of use set out in UKERNA’s policy document Access to the JVCS by Content Providers (PDF 31KB) . Eligible organisations The funding will be open to museums, galleries, archives, libraries, arts organisations, science centres, heritage bodies and other similar organisations in England. These organisations will normally be charities or not-for-profit organisations and have a clear educational mission. The organisations should already have been in contact with a suitable intermediary (such as BECTA, or a Regional Broadband Consortium) in order to explore the videoconferencing sessions that they could offer. Selection and grant awarding process MLA will invite applications from organisations that meet these basic eligibility criteria, and which are supported by a suitable educational organisation (eg UKERNA, a Regional Broadband Consortium or BECTA). MLA will invite a panel of relevant representatives to assist in evaluating the proposals, primarily in terms of the educational potential offered to schools through the connection to the NEN. Representatives from RBCs, UKERNA, Arts Council England, DCMS and BECTA will be invited to comment on the proposals, as part of the decision-making process. Grant applications must be received by 12 noon on 2nd March 2007. MLA hopes to be able to inform successful applicants by 16th March 2007. MLA intends to offer grants at two levels – two awards of £10,000 and four awards of £3000. The awards must be used to provide connectivity or to procure videoconferencing equipment that must meet the service levels required for connection to the JANET Videoconferencing Service. This connection would normally be through a Regional Broadband Consortium, a JANET Regional Network Operator, Local Education Authority or via a sponsored connection to an existing educational institution with a JANET primary connection. The smaller grants of £3,000 will be for cultural sector institutions that already have a suitable connection to the NEN, and will enable them to purchase videoconferencing equipment. The larger grants of £10,000 will be for collaborative proposals from a cultural institution with a public sector connectivity partner that will connect the institution to the National Education Network, and provide videoconferencing equipment. Projects may use a small proportion of the funding to assist with consultancy costs associated with specifying and implementing the service. Applications will be assessed on the basis of the following key criteria: - education potential, including applicability to a range of audiences and support for the inclusion agenda;
- value for money, availability of resources within the institution and sustainability;
- ability to deliver the project within the given timescales.
MLA may choose to vary the number and level of awards in the light of the range and quality of applications. Grant award and monitoring The grants would be offered under standard MLA Terms and Conditions, which include standard provision for accountability, monitoring and reporting. Specific terms and conditions will apply, including the successful completion of a JVCS Quality Assurance test, and the commitment to offer a minimum number of videoconferencing sessions through the JVCS Bookings Service. MLA will liaise with the JVCS to ensure that the agreed number of videoconferencing sessions are offered through the bookings service. MLA will also commission a small-scale evaluation of the projects. Technical implementation should be complete by 31st August 2007. Applications are accepted by using the following form: Videoconferencing grant application form (Word 52 KB) .
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