The Joint Astronomy Centre provides services and support to enable visiting and staff astronomers to undertake top-quality, front-line international-class research using the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope; to develop these facilities in order to maintain their position as the most advanced of their kind in the world; to operate them in the most cost effective and efficient manner on behalf of the funding agencies; and to be responsive to the changing needs of the contributing organisations.