Event Agenda Day 2

Coffee & Networking Break

The Changing Nature of Higher Education in the Digital Age

Higher Education is changing as a result of a large number of factors, including the growth of digital technologies. In this presentation, Neil will discuss strategic priorities in digital education to support campus-based blended learning approaches and growth in online learning. Neil will also discuss the outcomes of a major ESRC funded research project exploring the unbundling of higher education, where educational provision is increasingly being disaggregated and provided online, in an increasingly marketized and competitive environment.

STREAM ONE - Internationalisation Experience and Employability Gain

The ability of graduates to meet the needs of employers in a globalised work environment, the value of international experience and the need to offer similar employability benefits for students who are unable to undertake traditional mobility experiences are currently issues in HE. A recent project explored the employability learning gains reported by students who studied abroad, worked abroad or undertook an on-campus experience that contributed towards providing an international perspective. The presentation considers evidence about employability related gain students acquire from traditional international experience and from on-campus activities designed to enhance internationalisation and their relative effectiveness.

STREAM TWO - Group Discussion: Can Disruptive Innovation and Artificial Intelligence Help Build Quality in On-line Doctoral Education?

The discussion is to examine the ongoing work in Liverpool University to use innovative mechanisms and incorporation of AI into distance learning programmes, to enhance the quality of dissertations. Doctoral level programmes offer flexibility and convenience over residential doctorate programmes, however, are particularly challenging due to the individualistic nature of work, reliance on technical systems and lack of social interaction. Could disruptive innovation and effective application of AI, be the change agents needed?

STREAM THREE - Assessing Strategic Opportunities

Universities are under more pressure than ever to expand into different markets and diversify income. Evaluating how opportunities in different markets and product areas, and at different stages of maturity, compare can be a challenge, as can deciding where an institution should focus effort and investment. This presentation will cover the approach the Open University has taken to assessing and prioritising strategic opportunities across the organisation, as well as the benefits and challenges we have experienced in implementing this approach.

Digital Leadership Models in Higher Education

Creating digital strategies for Higher Education is particularly challenging. Universities consist of disparate communities often with very different agendas. Creating a “one-size fits all” digital strategy is not appropriate, but there are common techniques that you can deploy for success.

My presentation will argue that University IT Divisions will need to move towards being a partner, broker, facilitator and consultant to our academic and professional services communities. We will need to trade traditional control for influence and we will need to promote digital leadership across our organisations. Increased partnership working will allow us to harness the specialisms of our academic communities. World class researchers, well versed in areas such as cyber security, big data and analytics, AI, VR and robotics are frequently available within our own organisations. The sharing of the digital agenda in this way will create strategies that better fit the future needs of both educators and researchers.

Solution Provider Case Study

Solution Provider Case Study - Stream 1/2/3/4

Efficiency Brunch

Topic led roundtables around efficiency challenges in your organisation.

Business Meetings

Being International - effective global strategy and communications in the era of Brexit

2012, in the face of concerns about immigration and student visas, The University of Sheffield and its students’ union launched a campaign to communicate the positive impact of international students on UK higher education and to counter negative messages internationally. Six years later the campaign has won numerous awards and is supported by over 100 UK universities and major businesses and its materials (including films in Chinese and a number of European languages) have been adopted for use by the British Council, UUK and the Foreign Office. Most importantly, the largest survey of potential international students say the campaign has reassured them that UK universities remain welcoming, despite concerns about brexit. What lessons do the campaign have for how universities communicate internationally and how can we mitigate increasing global competition and concerns about UK policies around post study work?

An Integrated Academic Strategy: Bringing Teaching and Research Closer

In 2017 Royal Holloway developed an ‘Integrated Academic Strategy’ after consultation across campus on the principles that underlay our teaching and research. Using a set of principles common to teaching and research, the strategy then articulated how each of the common principles was embodied in teaching and research behaviours. The presentation will discuss the process of launching the strategy and how it has shaped teaching and research activity at the Royal Holloway.

Panel Session - Teaching Excellence Framework vs Student Experience

The teaching excellence framework can be very contentious subject. On the one hand, the outcomes can be said to be largely uncontrollable, the metrics are poor and the results are hard to predict. On the other hand, the clever algorithms allow encourage excellence from universities. With every University striving for “Gold”, can the students experience take a backseat?

This panel of experts will discuss how to manage a good TEF result with a realistic student experience.

Chair’s closing remarks

Coffee & Networking Break

Lunch