Knowledge Platform
Since 1985 SURF has played a key role in the ICT policy of higher education and research in the Netherlands. By initiating and stimulating innovations, and by creating collaborations SURF has greatly contributed to the internationally prominent position of the Dutch universities and the universities of applied sciences.
Over the years ICT has worked its way further and further into the capillaries of the institutions. This situation has extended the working field of SURF. More than ever there is a need for an organisation that centralises knowledge on ICT and disseminates it among institutions for higher education and research.
The benefits of the many investments can only truly be gained if the facilities are integrated into a close-knit whole that takes the individual user's workflow rather than the organisations as its departure point.
This has become possible with Service Oriented Architecture. The construction of such a SOA, at both the national and the institutional level, requires both clear agreements and much expertise, for instance on standards.
SURFfoundation fulfils both requirements: it collaborates internationally with leading partners and centralised the experiences in the Netherlands. Through its expertise SURF is particularly suited to be the knowledge platform for ICT policy in higher education.