Discover and share good practice for smarter working universities

Jennifer Gane and John Wiseman

Eureka! Classicist finds solution in degree apprenticeship

Some graduates find themselves unsuited to the fast-changing world of employment despite impeccable qualifications. Degree apprenticeships can be a good way to provide the skills needed in the workforce. Classics graduate Jennifer Gane found that by landing a degree apprenticeship in digital technology solutions she was able to link a dead language, to one that's very much alive - and find a job.
HEFCE logo

Technology is redefining learning but ‘one size will not fit all’

Technology has the potential to radically reshape teaching and learning, but this post on HEFCE's blog argues that the different circumstances of each institution, discipline, and student must be recognised.
DMU Replay Student View

Raising the quality of teaching and learning for disabled students

Using tech to provide ways to make teaching and learning more accessible has won De Montfort University admiring words from government. Abigail Moriarty explains how DMU Replay works and why it doesn't only aid students with disabilities.

Exploring institutional practices in the post-digital age

The 15th annual Academic Practice and Technology conference included discussions around student engagement and digital provision and provided an opportunity to expand on ideas that can improve the link between students and institutions. Steve Dawes writes on the Association for Learning Technology blog about how the event showed that there is still a willingness to use digital technology to help students individually as well as part of a group.
WonkHE

The need to future proof data on degree value

With data like TEF and LEO, the question of value is at their core and understood largely in terms of students’ expectations and outcomes, particularly those which relate to careers and salaries. But what if the career landscape changes in the future, Adam Wright asks on Wonkhe.
Mike Sharples professor of educational technology at the Open University

Mike Sharples: ‘we are using analytics in a much more active way than before’

The Open University (OU) has led the way in pioneering innovative methods of teaching and learning. Mike Sharples, professor of educational technology, at the OU tells Rosie Niven how technological changes and better learning analytics is making its teaching more effective.
Universities UK logo

UUK report: what do students want from their university?

To help inform the development of the OfS at this critical stage, Universities UK has carried out research with students to understand what they want, and most value, from their relationship with their university. This report sets out recommendations for how universities and the OfS can work together to address students' priorities in the new landscape.
Ducklings with their mother

How degree apprenticeships can fill regional skills gaps

The government's target of three million apprenticeships before 2020 presents an opportunity for businesses to develop their workforces to deliver creativity, innovation and growth. Sarah Tudor of Staffordshire University explains why it is using apprenticeships to bridge the region's skills gaps.

Accreditation fit for a (digital) purpose?

Using learning technology is now part of the job for a growing proportion of the higher education workforce, says the Association of Learning Technology’s Maren Deepwell. She argues that recognition for skills in using technology for learning, teaching or assessment is now needed and invites professionals to help develop accreditation of this growing specialism.

Only connect: UCL’s vision for greater synergy between research and education

Institutions across the world are increasingly looking at fresh possibilities of making connections between their research and students educations. Dilly Fung explains three new, interrelated initiatives at UCL that are designed to make research and education inspire and strengthen each other.