Jisc
Event

Student experience experts meeting - October 2026

With expert speakers, sector collaboration, and actionable insights, this meeting promises to be a rich opportunity for shaping the future of digital student experience - locally and globally.

One dayFree
  • 14 October 2026

    In person - The Studio, Birmingham
    09:30 – 15:45

The 58th meeting of the student experience experts group will bring together sector leaders, practitioners, and researchers to explore how digital transformation will shape and enhance the student experience across higher education. The programme will focus on understanding the current digital maturity of higher education and how that affects the student experience, supporting equitable transnational education, and considering curriculum and assessment design in the age of AI.

Key themes of the event:

  • Understanding the current digital maturity of UK higher education and its impact on the student experience
  • Enhancing equity for transnational education (TNE) students
  • Considering curriculum and assessment design in an age of AI
  • Encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing across the sector

Throughout the day, the meeting will aim to:

  • Strengthen evidence-based approaches to improving the student experience
  • Share insights from sector research projects
  • Highlight the strategic role of digital in delivering high quality, equitable learning
  • Foster collaboration that will inform future policy and practice

Our student experience experts group continues to play a vital role in informing and influencing the direction of future Jisc student experience work, as well learning, teaching and assessment.

Find out more information about the group and how to become a member.

Programme

Registration and tea/coffee pastries on arrival

Welcome and introduction to the meeting

Speaker:

  • Sarah Knight, director of digital leadership and transformation, Jisc

Findings from Jisc’s 2026 sector digital maturity assessment and what this means for the student experience

Group discussion – how the findings support strategic priorities of your organisation.

Speakers:

  • Sarah Knight, director of digital leadership and transformation
  • Elizabeth Newall, senior sector specialist, digital transformation

Beyond blended – taking forward assessment design in the context of AI

Speaker:

  • Sheila MacNeill, consultant

Lunch and networking time

How libraries are supporting digital transformation and the student experience

Speakers:

  • Paola Marchionni, head of engagement, digital transformation
  • Deborah Munro, deputy director library and learning services, Aston University

Update and findings from phase 4 of Jisc’s research into the digital experiences of transnational education staff and students

In this session we will hear from our research pilots who are using their data gathered through Jisc’s phase 3 of its TNE research programme, to enhance the provision for their TNE partnerships.

Speakers:

  • Elizabeth Newall, senior sector specialist, digital transformation
  • Dr Tabetha Newman, CEO Timmus Research
  • TNE Research pilots TBC

Members showcase sharing practice in digital learning, teaching and assessment

We will hear from colleagues across higher education who share their practice.

Close

Who should attend

  • Leaders who are responsible for digital transformation of learning, teaching and assessment
  • Staff with a role of supporting the student experience within their college or university
  • Staff who have a role in supporting international and transnational education students
  • Open to staff and leaders with a role in technology-enhanced learning or digital learning, teaching, and assessment

Contact

For further information, please contact events@jisc.ac.uk.