Distributed IT Support Staff (DITSS) Subgroup

The Distributed IT Support Staff (DITSS) Subgroup is concerned with the requirements of distributed IT support staff in HE/FE.

These are staff whose main role is IT support and are working individually or in small groups away from the central IT/IS/Computer Centres (whether employed by the institution's IT Centre or by other departments, schools or faculties).

Terms of reference

• to help institutions build contacts with such staff
• to encourage the IT Centre to pass on UCISA communications 
• to promote the training and development of these staff, including induction and on-going training
• to share knowledge and experiences of working remotely from the central IT/IS Service in small teams or alone (e.g. give information on the advantages and disadvantages of different support models and strategic issues like standards, common procurement etc.)
• to ensure that UCISA consider distributed IT support staff in their activities

Note that we will not be bypassing IT Centres or undermining them. The intention is to highlight the problems of distributed support staff and offer advice on how an institution might help these staff to make best use of their time.

E-mail list

There is discussion list for Distributed IT Support Staff issues. To find out more, join the list or view archives of the list go to http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/UCISA-SDG-DITSS.html

Events

The DITSS Subgroup organises a biennial symposium with the Service Desk Group of the Support Services Group.  This is normally held over two days.  The last symposium was held in July 2009 at Aston (details and programme). The next symposium will be in July 2011.

Chair's blog

The Chair's personal blog is at http://stevegough.blogspot.com/