10 March 2011
The Systems Interoperability Framework (SIF) Association and the Department for Education (DfE) are pleased to announce that they have agreed to work closely together to take forward work on the interoperability of data in the UK education system. Both organisations share the common goal of achieving cost effective and secure methods of sharing data between different systems and organisations, and today's announcement sets out how they will work together to each achieve that goal.
The DfE acknowledges and values the work done by the SIF community and others in the UK. The DfE will continue to support the work of the SIF Association by sharing knowledge and advice through the Technical Support Service for the Information Standards Board (ISB), the Department’s Chief Information Officer Group and the Data and Statistics Division.
The DfE and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) jointly sponsor the ISB as the approval body for data and information standards across the system of education, skills and children's services (escs) in England. The SIF Association recognises and values the work that has been done by the DfE and the ISB in producing a Business Data Architecture model suitable for use across the escs. The Association also accepts the long term vision and direction of the Business Data Architecture and has committed itself to work alongside the ISB in the development of new data items.
For information on the SIF Association, please visit their website.