Discover and share good practice for smarter working universities

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.

Investing in teaching can create a more efficient university

Good teaching can have a positive impact on a university’s efficiency levels. Lucy Haire of the Higher Education Academy explains the benefits of investing in good teaching.
Megan Dunn NUS vice president

Value me not my money: why students are key to good decision making

The notion of the student as a consumer is one that is gaining popularity. But NUS vice president (higher education) Megan Dunn says universities need to start seeing students as full members of their community who should play an active role in it, rather than customers, easily impressed by shiny new buildings.
Apprenticeship agenda has benefited Staffordshire

Using apprenticeships to bring wider regional benefits

On the HEFCE blog, Sarah Tudor, director of business engagement services at Staffordshire University, explains how apprenticeships have given the university the opportunity to enhance employer relationships and address skills gaps.
Pic credit: TaxRebate.org.uk

How the academic programmes offered by universities impact on their efficiency and effectiveness

When a university fails to recruit enough students to make a course viable, it can be costly. A new i-MAP study considers how a more market-led approach to strategic development of the academic portfolio might improve universities’ efficiency and effectiveness, as its director Paul Coyle explains.

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.

A new website is born for changing the learning landscape

The Leadership Foundation has launched an area on its website dedicated to the HEFCE-funded project Changing the Learning Landscape, which will highlight technology enhanced learning activities in specific universities as well as tools that can be used to support these developments.
Jisc logo

Universities join forces to design learning analytics architecture for the sector

Universities wishing to raise achievement of all students were urged to consider adopting learning analytics in the Higher Education Commission's recent report ‘From Bricks to Clicks’. In this blogpost, Phil Richards says the sector is now also recognising learning analytics as a priority area and Jisc is working with universities deliver a national open architecture for this work.
HEFCE logo

Hefce issues funding call and study supporting innovation in teaching and learning

Improving student outcomes and survival in a marketised environment are amongst the drivers for innovation in teaching in learning, according to a Hefce study. A blogpost by Hefce's Amanda Wilcox outlining the findings of the study also launches a funding call for institutions wishing to develop experimental innovations in teaching and learning.
BLE logo

Practical teaching with technology – free MOOC

On May 1st 2017, the Bloomsbury Learning Environment is launching a free, new Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), Get Interactive: Practice Teaching with Technology.