Jonathan Hofgartner at Digifest 2026.
negotiating services, licenses and technol- ogy agreements.”
Efficiencies
Collective action and collaboration reduces the procurement burden for individual colleges, and strengthens the sector’s ability to influence supplier practices and future service develop- ment, according to Jonathan, who adds: “Perhaps the greatest advantage of a collective approach is that it reduces duplication. Instead of hundreds of institutions each conducting their own market analysis, contractual review and supplier engagement, much of this work can be coordinated and shared. “Institutions benefit not only from negotiated outcomes, but also from access to collective intelligence, expertise and a stronger understanding of market developments. Jisc is able to provide institutions with better commercial outcomes, and the insight and exper- tise needed to navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape. This creates a stronger foundation for decision-making and helps institutions respond to emerg- ing opportunities and risks with greater confidence.”
To achieve this, he said: “Jisc combines market intelligence, sector engagement and direct supplier relationships to build an understanding of key markets. Because we work across many insti-
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tutions, we are often able to identify common challenges and broader market trends that may not be visible from the perspective of a single organisation. We also look outside of the UK to anticipate, compare, or validate market trends or sector patterns, often in collaboration with other NRENs.”
Areas of interest
Asked where he thinks sector negotia- tions could be most valuable, Jonathan said: “The most valuable or significant opportunities tend to arise where there is significant vendor/supplier market power, a common institutional/sector need, and areas of strategic importance to the future of education.
“From a learning and teaching perspec- tive, we see growing opportunity around the technologies, content and platforms needed to support national skills priori- ties. Areas such as AI and digital capabil- ity, construction, engineering, advanced manufacturing, health, green technolo- gies and technical education more broadly are all being increasingly prioritised. We’re also seeing colleges preparing for major qualification reforms, expansion of technical pathways and/or more flexible lifelong learning models.
Again, from a learning and teaching perspective this creates opportunities for collective action in areas such as:
l Assessment technologies;
l digital learning content and online resources;
l specialist industry-standard software used in disciplines such as engineering, construction, manufacturing, creative industries and digital technologies;
l AI-enabled teaching and learning platforms;
l workforce development and employa- bility solutions.
“These are markets where colleges can share very similar needs, but can find themselves negotiating individually, often with large global suppliers. Collective engagement can help secure better value, more favourable licensing terms, improved access arrangements and even greater influence over product development.” Opportunities for Jisc’s licensing activity have also been identified in areas such as cyber security, core digital infrastructure and productivity platforms Jonathan said that: “As supplier ecosystems become in- creasingly integrated and AI capabilities become more embedded within main- stream software platforms, institutions need confidence in price and issues such as interoperability, accessibility, data protection and sustainability. “I would emphasise that the value of sector negotiation is not just about reducing cost – it’s also about ensur- ing that learners and staff across the
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