For the past decade, Jisc’s Digital Experience Insights (DEI) service has provided valuable evidence about the digital experiences of students, teaching staff and professional services staff across the UK and internationally. These insights have helped institutions shape and improve their digital environments, ensuring they remain relevant and responsive in a rapidly changing landscape.
After careful review, we have taken the decision to retire the DEI service at the end of the current 2025/26 cycle. While the question set has remained highly relevant, usage has steadily declined, making the service no longer viable. As a not-for-profit organisation, we must ensure our resources are directed where they can deliver the greatest value to our members.
What this means for current users
All current DEI subscribers have already been informed of the planned closure, and the service will continue to operate as normal until 31 July 2026. The full service will be delivered throughout this year, with our team committed to maintaining the highest standard of support during the final cycle.
It is anticipated that insights from the year just completed and the current year will be made available more widely, subject to confirmation. This would include perspectives from students, teaching staff and professional services staff, helping to ensure the evidence base continues to inform sector discussions.
Addressing sector challenges together
Over ten years ago, our members told us they wanted to be confident that the significant sums invested in digital technologies were truly benefitting learners and staff. After extensive consultation and research, the Digital Experience Insights service was launched, with the first surveys piloted in 2016.
Since then, DEI has helped universities and colleges to:
- Better understand and improve the digital experiences of their students and staff
- Strengthen digital environments and infrastructure
- Provide baseline data for key digital developments and transformation initiatives
- Evidence return on investment in the digital environment
- Monitor changes over time and track progress
- Benchmark against peers across the sector
- Evaluate the impact of strategies and initiatives
- Enhance digital support and improve provision of blended learning
These achievements reflect the collaborative effort of institutions across the UK and beyond, and they will continue to inform digital practice long after the service itself concludes.
Looking ahead
Although DEI will come to a close, Jisc remains committed to supporting members in understanding and improving digital experiences. Work is already underway to define future offerings that build on the insights generated, ensuring continued sector support beyond the final cycle.
Continuing the journey
Jisc acknowledges the contributions made to DEI over the years and the role it has played in shaping digital practice across education. While the service is concluding, discussions are ongoing about how the insights generated may continue to inform sector activity. Jisc remains committed to supporting future work that enhances digital experiences for learners and staff.
