With increasing digitalization, the education sector is shifting from conventional modes of operation to a digital one. Managed services help increase reliability, which, in turn, encourages the adoption of information & communications technology in everyday practices. Managed services in education provide access to information & communications technology to staff as well as students. Managed IT services can lead to further training and development opportunities for support as well as teaching staff.
These services can render revenue savings by providing access to technical experts instead of employing the skills for full-time consultancy. As a result, management can focus on teaching and learning developments instead of dealing with technical issues. The transfer of IT efficiency from the staff will help them minimize the time spent dealing with technical problems.
Reasons for Choosing managed services
- Predictable or low costs
- External expertise
- Scalability
- Focus on core competencies
- Improved service quality
- Speed of implementation
- Tailored services
A reliable and networked ICT infrastructure has widened opportunities for learners. Networks enable tutors and students to log in on any workstation and thereby promote the sharing of resources. The offering of managed services addresses key points such as risk sharing, change management, service evolution, and continual improvement for a productive outcome.
Issues with managed services
- Limited physical size of institutions
- Funding constraints
- Lack of prior experience
- Lack of understanding of requirements
- Lack of management priority
- Lack of flexibility and control
Careful Considerations before Implementing Managed Services
It is essential for institutions to describe an output specification in terms of what users can expect from an educational set up. It is important to invest time in understanding the existing processes, costs, and service levels and articulating these overall benefits and value of managed services.
