Beyond the Technology: The education 4.0 podcast Jisc

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 by transforming unused campus spaces into innovative teaching labs.
Remote Laboratories allow students to conduct over 100 different experiments across various engineering disciplines from anywhere, using just a web browser. This flexibility supports blended learning, making practical work more accessible to students with diverse commitments.
Professor Drysdale highlights the project's collaborative nature and its potential to revolutionise global STEM education by integrating AI and digital tools. This approach not only enhances learning but also prepares students for a tech-driven professional world.
Join us to hear about the practical benefits and future potential of remote labs in enhancing both student learning and educational outcomes. Discover how Remote Laboratories are reshaping engineering education and the transformative impact of digital education on students and educators.
Subscribe to our newsletter for more stories, download our report on post-pandemic learning, and connect with Professor Drysdale to explore similar innovations for your institution.
Tune in to the Beyond the Technology podcast to hear the full story.
Show notes ·       Hear more about the University of Edinburgh’s story in our Beyond the Technology podcast series on award winners.
·       Join the conversation and get in touch with Tim and the team.
·       Download our report: Beyond blended: Post-pandemic curriculum and learning design: lessons from the higher education (HE) sector
·       Subscribe to our Headlines newsletter, which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you

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 University to discuss what Elaine, Andy and their teams are doing to support digital transformation.
Andy begins by describing the hidden work that provides the infrastructure for digital innovation and how digital transformation has been happening at all levels of the organisation by breaking down silos and encouraging a culture to support innovative practice.
We hear from Elaine on using digital transformation to enable strategy by getting the communication, culture and execution right. Elaine also speaks about having a plan and clear milestones in place to assist with the journey of digital transformation.
Elaine and Andy take us through some of the initiatives that support digital transformation at the university, including a significant cyber security program, the use of Power BI to support academic planning and the integration of technology into the learning spaces at the Belfast campus, which have been embraced by both staff and students.
Listen to the full episode for all of this and more, including the challenges of keeping up the momentum of digital transformation and how Ulster are supporting staff and students with the AI innovations in the sector.


Show notes:
Read Ulster University’s strategy Ulster’s digital strategy Find out more about Ulster’s centre for digital learning enhancement Check out our framework for digital transformation in higher education and explore a comprehensive perspective on how the digital environment can support positive work, research and learning experiences, and promote a sense of belonging and wellbeing Subscribe to Headlines - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you

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 supporting adult learners through remote education.
In this episode, Savi and Miko discuss Activate Learning’s unique learning philosophy which moves away from focusing solely on the traditional methods of teaching. Miko shares with us the emotion and motivation in the online and remote learning process that is needed to change the nature of the teacher role in an online setting to one that is coaching focused to sustain learner motivation.
The team addresses student challenges such as device access, personal commitments, the pandemic and financial constraints with practical solutions to ensure inclusivity.
Jonathan Hofgartner, the lead assessor for the Jisc Beacon Awards, emphasises how Activate's strategy aligns with criteria like innovation, impact, and sustainability.
Finally, Savi and Miko share the critical role that feedback has in driving learner success. By providing timely feedback within 48 hours, even on evenings and weekends, Activate Learning keeps adult learners engaged and motivated to complete assignments. This commitment to rapid feedback, combined with a coaching-focused teaching model, distinguishes Activate Learning's approach and contributes to its success.
Show notes ·       Find out more about Activate Learning and their award-winning learning philosophy.
·       Download our framework for digital transformation.
·      Find out more about the Association of Colleges Beacon Awards.
·      Read our member story sharing Activate Learning’s journey.
·       Subscribe to our Headlines newsletter, which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you.
·       Get in touch with us at podcast@jisc.ac.uk if you’d like to come on the show or know someone who might suit the series.

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 elevation tool, building digital capability service and digital experience insights surveys.
In this episode Andrew and Louisa are joined by Kerry Heathcote, vice principal of curriculum and quality at College of West Anglia.
The discussion begins with a look ay College of West Anglia’s digital elevation strategy and the six elements that comprise the curriculum design and development and learner experience.
Kerry talks about how Jisc’s digital experience insights survey, through student and learner feedback, allows the college to benchmark themselves and really focus on the student voice, leadership, governance and culture.
Next, Kerry shares advice for teachers on using digital technologies in their teaching by keeping the learner at the heart of the experience.
Lastly, Kerry looks to the future and how the role of the FE teacher may change over time.
 
Show notes
Subscribe to Headlines - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you Get in touch with us at podcast@jisc.ac.uk if you’d like to come on the show or know someone who might suit the series

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 looking at the ethical questions that have been raised around using AI at their institutions, and how frequent empathy mapping with students and staff ensures their needs are met. Next, they highlight the benefits and pitfalls of AI for both students and staff, and the need for the sector to define best practice for using AI in education.
David and Alina share examples of ethical dilemmas around generative AI from their session at Digifest and Scott discusses his approach to deepfakes at Basingstoke.
Finally, the group predict where assessment might be heading in the age of AI.
 
Show notes
Learn more about Jisc’s work on AI.
Be the first to hear our developing plans for Digifest 2025 by signing up to our mailing list
Subscribe to Headlines - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you
Get in touch with us at podcast@jisc.ac.uk if you’d like to come on the show or know someone who might suit the series.

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 complexities and challenges faced by international students in navigating the digital landscape of their educational experiences. From discussions on prior access to technology and digital infrastructure across different countries to the integration of digital tools in teaching and learning practices in the UK, the podcast provides valuable insights into how universities can better support their international student community.
 
Show notes
Find out more about the researching international students' digital experience project.
Briefing paper 1 | Facilitating holistic conversations about the student experience with international students
Briefing paper 2 | Supporting international students’ digital experience: a checklist for providing an equitable and inclusive experience
Briefing paper 3 | Comparing international and UK-domiciled student responses in Jisc’s digital experience insights (DEI) survey
Read up on the International students’ digital experience phase one: a review of policy, academic literature and views from UK higher education and the International students’ digital experience phase two: experiences and expectations
Register your interest to stay informed of our research into international students’ digital experience
Subscribe to Headlines - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you
Get in touch with us at podcast@jisc.ac.uk if you’d like to come on the show or know someone who might suit the series.