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Driving technology transformation at The College Merthyr Tydfil using Jisc’s digital elevation tool

Our digital elevation tool is helping accelerate digital transformation, strengthen cyber security, enhance teaching and learning, and secure funding, while empowering staff and improving the student experience.

Owned by the University of South Wales, The College Merthyr Tydfil is an FE tertiary college with a diverse student community and a broad curriculum, offering a full range from entry-level vocational courses and A levels through to degree-level study.

Like many organisations, the college, which has around 2,500 learners, 110 teachers, and a total of 250 staff, made a rapid transition to online delivery through necessity during the pandemic.

Although the college already had digital systems supporting some functions, the use of technology in this way sparked enthusiasm for new ways of delivering teaching and learning, prompting its leaders to adopt our digital elevation tool (DET).

The DET is an online self-assessment tool developed to allow senior strategic leaders in FE and skills organisations to validate their organisation’s current position against five key themes, and map their digital journey in each area against the digital elevation model.

“When the DET was launched by Jisc, we thought it was a brilliant opportunity to conduct a self-evaluation and audit of where we were. It was a real eye-opener, not just in terms of where we were and how far we had travelled, but also in terms of external expectations we hadn’t previously considered.”

– Chris Ford, vice principal curriculum and quality, The College Merthyr Tydfil.

Identifying priority actions

The first stages of the DET process flagged up key changes that the college wanted to address immediately. Cyber security was identified as an area that needed strengthening, and the college now has Cyber Essentials Plus and an annual audit process in place. A partnership with industry-led skills service Cyber College Cymru helps educate learners around security, and The College Merthyr Tydfil’s internal IT team leads on ensuring staff are kept up to date with threats and best practice.

Other areas raised in the early stages include improvements to diversity and inclusion – for example, ensuring the college’s websites and other systems met accessibility standards. Governance is an ongoing focus, to ensure buy-in and responsibility for digital change from governors.

Embracing the role of digital in teaching

As it follows the DET process, The College Merthyr Tydfil has embraced automation as a way to improve course delivery and to free up academics to do what they do best – teaching.

Staff are actively encouraged to experiment with digital tools, with a focus on impact and selecting the right tool for the task. Regular sharing sessions are held so staff can communicate what they have learned with colleagues. Although still in the early stages, the team are excited about the potential of AI to support some processes.

As Chris explains:

“Staff confidence in digital has grown significantly. Academic and business support staff alike see digital as simply the way of doing things – usually more efficiently, and to their benefit. People who once shied away from training or new technologies are now much more forthcoming.”

Technology that improves the student experience

The DET has helped the college focus on the experiences that matter to students.

For example, a chatbot is in development, which will automate learner queries and return answers quickly. Digital lockers have been installed on site, enabling students to independently check out a device such as a laptop and return it, using a smart keycard system.

Chris says:

“Overall, the tool provides assurance that all the bases are covered. It helps us identify gaps, plan effectively, and see long-term as well as short-term progress. That framework for improvement gives us confidence that our direction of travel is the right one.”

The DET as a key to funding

The college’s use of the DET preceded the Welsh Government’s request for a detailed action plan from every FE institution in Wales, as part of its Digital 2030 strategy. Having a plan already in place helped unlock funding from that strategy.

The tool also provided a starting point for discussions around infrastructure, helping to make the case for investment in technology in internal discussions.

Partnership with Jisc

The College Merthyr Tydfil receives regular support and updates from Jisc specialists as it continues to work through the DET process. This includes meetings each half term to look at new developments and help keep the project on track.

Chris adds:

“The support from Jisc is exceptional. It’s face-to-face, one-to-one, with regular meetings, and support outside those times. Jisc is an industry partner and critical friend, helping us ensure our decisions around digital development and infrastructure are the right ones.”

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