Ucisa

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UCISA (Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association) is a United Kingdom association which represents the whole of higher education, and increasingly further education, in the provision and development of academic, management and administrative information systems.

UCISA was formed on 1st April 1993, by a merger of three bodies: the Inter-University Computing Committee (IUCC), the Polytechnics and Colleges Computer Committee (PCCC), and the Management Information Systems Committee (MISC). This merger took place in response to the Further and Higher Education Act of 1992 which effectively removed the binary distinction between universities and polytechnics/colleges, creating a single higher education sector.

UCISA is a membership organisation which consists of full members (universities, colleges and other educational institutions), affiliate members (other educational, not for profit organisations, overseas universities and educational bodies) and corporate members (commercial organisations). There are currently over 140 full members, over 30 affiliate members, and over 50 corporate members.

The activities of UCISA are partly devolved to interest-specific working groups; these are:

UCISA-IG (Infrastructure Group) -- the focal point for activities that sit between the hardware and application programs.
UCISA-CISG (Corporate Information Systems Group) -- deals with corporate information or management information systems and administrative computing services.
UCISA-NG (Networking Group) -- monitors and promotes the communications network, associated network services and network security.
UCISA-SDG (Staff Development Group) -- handles information and activities concerning the training and personal development of staff.
UCISA-TLIG (Teaching, Learning and Information Group) -- offers assistance for members on information, computer-based learning and computer mediated communications systems.
UCISA-PG (Procurement Group) -- an advisory body to develop value for money in ICT purchasing.

UCISA works closely with other advisory bodies in the sector and associated sectors, such as the JISC, Becta, UKOLN, and SCONUL.