Systems Interoperability Framework
Here at Perspective we firmly believe that the future of successful vocational training and work based learning relies on existing Management Information Systems being able to effectively communicate and share data with new progression management systems - it’s our belief that the data in educational establishments should be fully transferable across all applications.
To support this approach Perspective has joined the Systems Interoperability Framework Association (SIFA). The Systems Interoperability Framework (SIF) is an initiative launched to link together school data systems.
At present, the many different standalone applications used by schools, colleges and local authorities face the problem of data isolation effectively making it impossible for these different systems to share their data. This often results in a huge increase in costly administrational resource, inefficient or incomplete reporting and is extremely prone to error.
Through SIF, these issues can be addressed by enabling all educational software applications to share agreed data simply and securely, presenting many tangible benefits:
- Ensures that data is entered only once into one central application and then automatically propagated to other applications.
- Enables a diverse range of applications used within schools and colleges to communicate and share data efficiently and securely regardless of the platform that they are hosted on.
- Provides interoperability standards and governance arrangements.
- Reduces costly administrational resources.
- Improves accessibility and streamlines Management reporting.
- Facilitates the transfer of data to local authorities and other government agencies.
The goal of Perspective and the SIF Association is to make it possible for school administrators, teachers and other school personnel to have access to the most current and accurate data available.
How Does SIF Work?
- SIF has defined the set of rules and definitions to share data rather than the current requirement for each application vendor to try and set up a separate connection to every other application.
- Through SIF, software application agents communicate with each other through a central communication point.
- Data travels between applications as a series of standardised messages, queries, and events written in XML and securely sent using Internet protocols.
Ultimately ensuring that data is entered only once into one central application, that is then automatically propagated to other applications.
Find out more about Perspective’s SIF Integration Consultancy, learn more about the benefits of SIF, or click here to better understand how SIF works.
Alternatively, contact one of Perspective’s SIF integration consultants today, to arrange a no-obligation appointment.
For further information on SIFA, visit the SIFA UK Website. Please see the following letter from the Chairman regarding Perspective's commitment to SIF
