University of Chester features in international report on digital innovation

The University participated in Jisc's digital transformation pilot project, and is one of 12 case study Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) chosen to demonstrate their transformation activities in more detail.

Jisc is a not-for-profit, digital, data and technology organisation focused on education, research and innovation.

The report from Jisc outlines the progress of the pilot of HEIs using its digital transformation toolkit. The toolkit - and its main components of a web guide, framework and maturity model - are described as designed to equip HEIs with a flexible approach, the skills and more to embrace digital evolution, and were used to support a wide range of digital initiatives.

The report explains: “We see digital transformation not as a destination, but an ongoing commitment by all those working in HE to consider where digital technologies can improve efficiency and effectiveness to enhance the learning, teaching and research experience.”

It adds that: “Good digital transformation engages the people it will affect; excellent transformation empowers them.”

The University of Chester case study shares how one part of a wider transformation strategy, led by its Centre for Academic Innovation and Development (CAID) and Learning and Information Services (LIS), was a project looking at the redesign and redevelopment of the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Moodle - a connected space for online course materials, aiming to improve this core technology. This was the context that led the team to first consider Jisc’s digital transformation toolkit.

The structure and contents of Jisc’s toolkit provided a catalyst for change, and a language and methodology that supported the team to create a wide and strong collaboration with students and staff including through the University’s Education Technology Forum, to better understand and develop how new digital infrastructure, such as the upgraded VLE, could improve the learning and teaching experience.

Exceptional engagement with the change programme has since enabled this co-design and collaboration to make improvements, such as the improved ease of access to information across the VLE platform.

The team also included a focus on organisational digital culture in their work, realising the importance of considering the cultural attitudes and practice that underpinned the use of digital technologies at the University.

Professor Helen O’Sullivan, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost at the University of Chester said: “Participating in Jisc’s digital transformation pilot has energised our approach to learning technology and curriculum development. This important work has been scaffolded by elements of the framework and maturity model and has increased collaboration between teams to improve our digital infrastructure, our technology to enhance learning and teaching, and our ability to manage dynamic change to support student experience.”

The report comes after Laura Milne, Head of Digital Education at the University, was presented with a national, individual ALT (Association for Learning Technology) Award in the autumn recognising her innovative work, achievements and impact in learning technology, including transforming the University’s VLE.

When the award was announced, Simon Birkett from Jisc commented that (the transformation work undertaken) clearly aligned to Jisc’s transformation framework, and that Laura “has contributed to the development and refinement of these materials which will impact across the whole higher education sector in the UK”.

To read the Jisc report and University of Chester case study, please visit: https://www.jisc.ac.uk/reports/how-to-approach-digital-transformation-in-higher-education

The University is also part of Jisc’s demonstrating digital transformation events series. The free ‘Demonstrating digital transformation: transformational co-design’ event at the University of Chester will share more on its initiatives and participating in the pilot, and will be held on April 24, 2025. More information and booking details are available at: https://www.jisc.ac.uk/events/demonstrating-digital-transformation-transformational-co-design