Spotlight25: Future-Proof: Empowering Staff for the Next Wave of Digital Transformation

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Booking Open

Date

29 April 2025

Book Before

29 April 2025

Online 10:00 - 16:30

MS Teams

About the Event

The UCISA Spotlight on Digital Capabilities Conference is a virtual conference run by the Digital Capabilities and Digital Education Groups. It brings together university leaders, IT professionals, learning technologists and academics to discuss the latest trends and challenges in digital capabilities.

As technology continues to evolve, the need for a digitally fluent workforce in higher education has never been more pressing. This conference delves into:

  • Strategies for preparing staff to navigate the next wave of digital transformation, from AI and automation to the metaverse.
  • The exploration of practical approaches to upskilling, fostering digital capabilities, and building a culture of lifelong learning within your institution.
  • Learning how to future-proof your workforce and ensure that your staff are not only keeping pace with emerging technologies but are equipped to leverage them to enhance teaching, research, and administration.

The conference will feature keynote speakers from leading universities and organisations with the opportunity to follow-up with a collaboration event later in the year.  

Speakers

Rob Howe

Head of Learning Technology

University of Northampton

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Laura Milne

Head of Digital Education

University of Chester

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Sarah Knight

Director of Digital Transformation

Jisc

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Phil Bainbridge

IT Specialist Support Advisor

University of York

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Dr Becki Vickerstaff

Higher Education Senior Consultant

Jisc

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Becki is a Higher Education Senior Consultant with Jisc supporting the Building Digital Capabilities Service for HE. She comes from an extensive background of over 19 years working within Higher Education in a digital education capability. Her PhD in technology enhanced learning encapsulates the processes and barriers of implementing digital tools and capabilities within Engineering Education.

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Steph Jesper

Teaching and Learning Advisor

University of York

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Steph works in the Digital Inclusion, Skills and Creativity Team at the University of York, where she designs and delivers digital skills training and is the main editor for the Skills Guides online resource

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Fiona Law

Partnerships Programmes and Community Lead

Google for Education

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Richard Banks

Director of Digital Education, DEA Lab

Imperial College Business School

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Richard Banks is Director of Digital Education in the IDEA Lab at Imperial College Business School. He has worked at the forefront of digital transformation for over 20 years. Before joining Imperial, he led teams at the BBC and FutureLearn.com and is passionate about creating accessible and engaging online learning experiences.

Professor Jackie Potter

Dean of Academic Innovation

University of Chester

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Jackie Potter is Dean of Academic Innovation at the University of Chester and Professor of Higher Education Learning and Development. She is a former Chair of the national network, Heads of Educational Development. She is a Senior Fellow of the Staff and Educational Development Association, and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. 

Michelle Turner

Deputy Director of Learning and Information Services

University of Chester

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Michelle Turner is the Deputy Director of Learning and Information Services at the University of Chester. She has 28 years’ experience of working in the Higher Education sector in the field of Libraries and IT Services, and has recently been part of the University of Chester’s team working with JISC to pilot their Digital Transformation Framework specifically in the area of knowledge development.

Rachel Bancroft

Head of the Learning and Teaching Support Unit (LTSU)

Nottingham Trent University

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Rachel, Rosemary and Bethany work together as the Learning and Teaching Support Unit (LTSU) in the School of Arts and Humanities at Nottingham Trent University; a team of learning specialists providing advice and support, and promoting effective and inclusive practice for digital learning and teaching. 

Rosemary Pearce

Learning Development Manager

Nottingham Trent University

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Rachel, Rosemary and Bethany work together as the Learning and Teaching Support Unit (LTSU) in the School of Arts and Humanities at Nottingham Trent University; a team of learning specialists providing advice and support, and promoting effective and inclusive practice for digital learning and teaching. 

Bethany Witham

Learning Technologist

Nottingham Trent University

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Rachel, Rosemary and Bethany work together as the Learning and Teaching Support Unit (LTSU) in the School of Arts and Humanities at Nottingham Trent University; a team of learning specialists providing advice and support, and promoting effective and inclusive practice for digital learning and teaching. 

Dr Charlotte Haines Lyon

Associate Professor in Children, Young People and Education

York St John University

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Dr Charlotte Haines Lyon is Associate Professor in Children, Young People and Education. Whilst most of her research is with young people and communities, she has been looking at how we might respond to Gen AI from an ethical and philosophical point of view and is a member of the School of Education, Language, and Psychology AI Working Group.

Dr Caroline Elbra-Ramsay

Interim Head of the School of Education, Language and Psychology

York St John University

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Dr Caroline Elbra-Ramsay is the Interim Head of the School of Education, Language and Psychology at York St John University. She has worked at the university for several years following a career in primary teaching.  Her own research is focused on assessment, feedback and Philosophy for Children and, more recently, as a member of the AI working group, Artificial Intelligence.

Dr Yeji Han

Senior Lecturer in Korean and Linguistics

York St John University

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Dr Yeji Han is a Senior Lecturer in Korean and Linguistics at York St John University. Her research explores language learning motivation, emotions, and Asian language education within Applied Linguistics. She also leads interdisciplinary projects on student wellbeing and positive psychology in education.

Professor Divine Charura

Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council in England (UK)

York St John University

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Professor Divine Charura is a registered practitioner psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council in England (UK). He is also a psychotherapist and Honorary Fellow of the UK Council for Psychotherapy. His interests include exploring academics and clinician’s engagement with AI and empowering them for ethical and digital fluency.

Callum Glen

Guest Lecturer and Postgraduate Researcher

York St John University

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Callum Glen is a Guest Lecturer and Postgraduate Researcher at York St John University. His research in cognitive psychology explores individual differences in cognitive mechanisms underlying presence in virtual reality. He is also interested in how emerging technologies, such as XR and AI, shape cognition, perception, and learning in educational and training contexts.

Richard Skidmore

Senior Lecturer in Initial Teacher Education

York St John University

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Richard Skidmore is a former primary school assistant head with 18 years classroom experience.  He is now a senior lecturer in initial teacher education, working across both the undergraduate and postgraduate courses.  Richard is also an educational consultant who develops the use of educational technology within local schools.

Steven Williams

Senior Digital Education Specialist

The Manchester Metropolitan University

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Digital Education team - Centre for Learning Enhancement and Educational Development (LEED).
Steven is based in the central team focussing on university initiatives, including implementing the University’s DELTA (Digitally Enhanced Learning teaching and Assessment) strategy, working closely with the team supporting Faculty and Department priorities. Steven focuses on the pedagogical value of technology in teaching, learning and assessment, by supporting staff in integrating digital to enhance the student and staff experience.
Steven joined Manchester Met in 2015, gaining expertise in assessments, impacting the University wide Assessment lifecycle and working on further projects such as the Apps for teaching & Learning package, and Moodle baseline, all embracing the university’s approach to Ai and how it can be responsibly embedded into provision.

Jack Sutherst

Digital Education Specialist - FHEA

Manchester Metropolitan University

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Having worked across a number of HEI's, I have a wealth of experience in designing and developing online and blended curricula using a range of pedagogic strategies that encourage flexible student learning. I support educators to leverage digital technologies to enhance teaching, learning, and assessment through personalisation, flexibility, and choice in what, where, when, and how our students learn. Recently, I have been supporting colleagues with the challenges presented by the rapid integration of Generative AI, specifically looking at authentic approaches to assessment (Re)design).

Event Schedule

Tuesday

10:00

Welcome and introductions

Alison Waters, Digital Capabilities Manager, Cranfield University
10:05

Sharing a whole institution approach to embracing and enhancing digital capabilities in a world of AI

Rob Howe, Head of Learning Technology, The University of Northampton
11:00

From IDEAs to Impact: empowering faculty and engaging students at Imperial

Richard Banks, Director of Digital Education, IDEA Lab, Imperial College
11:30

Pause for reflection

11:35

Comfort break

11:45

Empowering our staff to embrace generative AI responsibly through discourse and exploration

12:45

Pause for reflection

12:50

Lunch break

14:00

Pause for reflection

14:05

Comfort break

14:15

Cultivating collaboration for strategic change - building digital confidence and adaptability using Jisc’s framework and maturity model for digital transformation

14:45

An exploration of the tensions, and implications for professional practice’/graduate attributes when using Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education.

  • Charlotte Haines Lyon, Associate Professor, York St John University
  • Dr Caroline Elbra-Ramsay, Interim Head of the School of Education, Language and Psychology, York St John University
  • Dr Yeji Han, Senior Lecturer in Korean and Linguistics, York St John University
  • Professor Divine Charura, Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council in England (UK), York St John University
  • Callum Glen, Guest Lecturer and Postgraduate Researcher, York St John University
  • Richard Skidmore, Senior Lecturer in Initial Teacher Education, York St John University
15:25

Pause for reflection

15:30

Connect and collaborate Q&A session

Tamsyn Smith, Senior Learning Designer Team Lead, University of Southampton and Timothy Smales, Digital Skills and Training Manager, Keele University
16:20

Closing remarks

Annette Webb, Digital Training Tutor, York St John University