JISC

Today, sixteen universities across the UK are celebrating success after they received THE Leadership and Management Awards last night in London.

This inaugural awards ceremony, hosted by THE’s editor Ann Mroz, comedian Rory Bremner and opening address by David Willet MP, shadow secretary for universities and skills, saw over 900 people from across education celebrate their achievements.

The JISC sponsored Outstanding ICT Initiative Award went to Cardiff University for their Global University Project. By using webcams and podcast technology in an operating theatre, the project showed how it was able to open up new horizons for medical teaching.

Students and trainee doctors are given real life, real time experience of live surgery taking place in another country through the use of a high definition video link and microphones. This not only allows students to see what is happening, they can also ask the surgeon questions.

Chris Cobb, pro vice-chancellor at Roehampton University, JISC committee member and one of the judges for the awards said, “The use of video-streaming and two-way audio has opened up surgical procedures and innovations to much wider audiences. In particular, Cardiff’s support for teaching surgical practice in developing countries is highly commended.”

Previously, Cardiff University’s operating theatre only allowed two observers but now thanks to this innovative use of technology access and learning is being brought to far more.

Read further information about the awards and the evening’s winners.