Join Professor Tim Drysdale from the University of Edinburgh, Jisc Association of Learning Technology awards ALT award winner for digital transformation in 2023, as he explores the groundbreaking Remote Laboratories project in our latest episode. In this episode of the Beyond the Technology podcast, we explore the University of Edinburgh's Remote Laboratories project, led by Professor Tim Drysdale. This award-winning initiative addresses the growing demand for practical engineering education...

Sarah Knight speaks to Elaine Hartin and Andy Jaffrey, from Ulster University, about their agile and flexible approach to their strategic plan and the integration of digital technologies at the Belfast campus. In this podcast, Sarah Knight, head of learning and teaching transformation in the higher education and research directorate at Jisc, is joined by Elaine Hartin, chief strategy and finance officer, and Andy Jaffrey, head of the centre for digital learning enhancement, at Ulster...

In the next episode of our award winners podcast miniseries, Sophia Speakman interviews Miko Pescott and Savi Bains from Activate Learning, alongside Jonathan Hofgartner from Jisc, discussing Activate Learning's award-winning approach to digital technology in further education. This episode, hosted by Sophia Speakman, celebrates award winners for their innovative use of digital technology and sharing standout practices from tertiary education exploring Activate Learning's approach to...

Please note, this episode of the podcast was originally recorded in September 2023, so please bear that in mind when dates and times are mentioned. This is the fourth in a series of podcasts focused on further education and skills (FE), hosted by Andrew McFadyen and Louisa Stamatelopoulos. Throughout this series Andrew and Louisa are joined by experts from further education colleges to shine a light on how they support digital development through the use of Jisc tools, such as the digital...

In this special episode of Beyond the Technology, recorded live at Digifest 2024, Tom Moule, senior AI specialist in Jisc’s AI team is joined by David Pike, head of digital learning at the Academy for Learning and Teaching Excellence at the University of Bedfordshire, Alina Bajgrowicz, digital learning officer from the University of Bedfordshire, and Scott Hayden, head of teaching and learning and digital at Basingstoke College of Technology to discuss AI and empathy. The panel begins by...

In this episode of the Beyond the Technology podcast, Elizabeth Newall, senior sector specialist at Jisc invites Dr Tabetha Newman, senior research consultant at Timmus limited, Sharon Perera, head of academic digital skills at the University of Greenwich and Tom Wright, director of digital experience, University of Lincoln, to explore the findings of Jisc’s research investigating the digital experiences of international students studying in UK HE. Elizabeth invites guests to explore the...

In this episode of the Beyond the Technology podcast, Fiona Steel, graduate teaching assistant at Leeds Beckett University, joins Heidi Fraser-Krauss, Jisc’s CEO, to discuss using virtual reality (VR) to tackle the gender disparity in STEM education. Fiona is delivering a lightning talk session on this topic at Digifest. So, if you enjoy this conversation, be sure to attend her talk at 11:30 on Wednesday 13 March at the Digifest event, taking place in Birmingham and online. Fiona begins by...

Host Simon Birkett is joined by Helen Cocks from the University of Exeter to discuss how their agile culture is paying off for digital transformation. In this episode of the Beyond the Technology podcast, Helen Cocks, Head of Digital Strategy and Engagement, joins us to discuss the approach powering digital transformation at the University of Exeter. The university is already reaping the rewards of the digital strategy they implemented less than two years ago, with a vision of becoming the...

In the third of our further education and skills focused podcasts, we’re joined by Stevie Emmanuel and Yusuf Ibrahim from Cardiff and Vale College. This is the third in a series of podcasts focused on further education and skills (FE), hosted by Andrew McFadyen and Louisa Stamatelopoulos. Throughout this series Andrew and Louisa are joined by experts from further education colleges to shine a light on how they support digital development through the use of Jisc tools, such as the digital...

On this episode of Beyond the Technology, Sophia Speakman hosts Professor Niamh Nic Daeid, Vincenzo Rinaldi and Heather Doran from the University of Dundee, winners of the innovative use of technology award at the Herald Higher Education Awards, to discuss the exciting project surrounding virtual reality (VR) being carried out at the Leverhulme Research Centre. Niamh and Vincenzo outline how the team aims to revolutionise crime scene investigations and court proceedings using VR. Having...

In our second further education and skills focused podcast, Sheena Murphy-Collett, Petroc College’s Vice Principal of people, organisational development and engagement joins us to discuss digital growth, from seed to flower. This is the second in a series of podcasts focused on further education and skills (FE), hosted by Andrew McFadyen and Louisa Stamatelopoulos. Throughout this series Andrew and Louisa are joined by experts from further education colleges to shine a light on how they...

In this podcast episode, Elizabeth Newall welcomes Helen Beetham and Sheila MacNeill, who discuss rethinking learning and curriculum design in higher education. Helen Beetham, a researcher in digital education and Sheila MacNeill, an independent consultant with experience in curriculum design talk about the importance of rethinking learning and curriculum design in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to adapt to new challenges. The conversation explores the evolution of...

In this episode of the Beyond the Technology podcast, Elizabeth Newall, senior consultant in the Digital transformation of learning, teaching, and assessment at Jisc, welcomes a panel of experts from the University of Northampton. They discuss their innovative approach to rethinking learning and curriculum design in higher education. The conversation begins by discussing the University of Northampton's unique setting. Shân Wareing, deputy vice chancellor, and Rob Howe, head of learning...

Join Sarah Knight, head of learning and teaching transformation at Jisc, who is joined by Marieke Guy, Head of Digital Assessment at University College London (UCL) and Mary McHarg, Activities & Engagement Officer at UCL Student Union to discuss the reimagining of assessment and feedback at the institution. Marieke provides insights into the university's broad scope, with 11 faculties and over 60 departments. UCL supports around 43,000 students and over 14,000 employees, offering a...

In this episode, Simon Birkett, senior consultant for digital transformation at Jisc is joined by Jodie Wetherall, Associate Director - Office of the CIO at the University of Greenwich to discuss the university's digital strategy and its impact. Jodie shares insights into the University of Greenwich's vision for 2030, aiming to be the best modern university in the UK. They discuss the strategic priorities that focus on transformational shifts in learning and teaching, research and knowledge...

In this episode Lis Parcell is joined by Matt Turner and Gabi Witthaus at the Higher Education Futures institute (HEFi), University of Birmingham to talk about a hybrid teaching project involving two universities. Gabi and Matt were part of a research team made up of staff and students from University of Nottingham (project lead) and University of Birmingham (project partner) which investigated experiences of hybrid teaching and learning in academic year 2020/2021. The principal investigator...

In this episode, Sarah Knight, Head of learning and teaching transformation in higher education at Jisc is joined by Mike Phillips, the executive dean at the School of Health Science and Wellbeing at Staffordshire University where he discusses how the use of immersive learning and simulation learning is transforming the student experience in health care. Mike outlines the role that the School of Health Science and Wellbeing has in the immersive journey and shares the challenges of delivering...

In this episode, we are joined by Raheel Nawaz from Staffordshire University, where we learn about the exciting and innovative work Raheel is leading on in the digital transformation space. Raheel Nawaz is a professor of artificial intelligence and a professor of digital education working at Staffordshire University as pro vice-chancellor for digital transformation. Raheel explores his vision for digital transformation at Staffordshire University including the new digital at core strategy...

This episode is the first in a series of podcasts focused on further education and skills, hosted by Andrew McFadyen and Louisa Stamatelopoulos. Throughout this series Andrew and Louisa will be joined by experts from further education colleges to shine a light on how they support digital development through the use of Jisc tools, such as the digital elevation tool, building digital capability service and digital experience insights surveys. Phil Peatling, Head of Digital Learning at Boston...

How Nigel Francis uses the Star Wars universe to explain complicated topics like immunology  We speak with Dr Nigel Francis, senior lecturer at Cardiff University, about his project, immunology wars, which is a series of videos and illustrations that describes the basic functions of the immune system through the Star Wars movies. Simon explains how he first came up with the idea to explain immunology in this way and shares how he worked directly with the students to develop the concept. By...

Sarah Knight chats with consultants Helen Beetham and Sheila MacNeill about their recent review of learning and curriculum design in higher education. We chat with Helen and Sheila about the findings from their review, which included a desk-based literature review, a survey of over 155 professionals and 20 interviews with staff from within higher education. Alongside this, they also share examples of how universities are evolving their learning and curriculum design practices, and discuss...

We’re joined by Simon Walker, Director of programme development at University College London, to discuss how they have moved to digital assessment by default. Simon starts by talking through the challenges they have been facing with assessment, including how they had previously recognised that it was out of kilter with the student’s expectations for a modern education system. The pandemic enabled them to take a bold step toward adapting their practices, adopting an end-to-end digital...

In this episode, we are joined by Professor David Nicol, Suzanne McCallum, Lovleen Kushwah and Nick Quinn from The Adam Smith Business School at the University of Glasgow to chat about how they are using comparison based feedback to improve their assessment and feedback practices. Professor David Nicol, Research Professor: Teaching Excellence Initiative, at The Adam Smith Business School, starts by taking us through the research they have undertaken into feedback, looking at what feedback...

In this third episode of our mini-series on rethinking assessment and feedback, we are joined by Karen Barton, director of the learning and teaching innovation centre at the University of Hertfordshire. Karen shares some of the feedback they have had from students on assessment including, providing authentic assessment, providing personalised assessment where possible and changes to the workloads/phasing of assessment. We then discuss a recent consultation and review that the university has...