Digifest speech: skills minister to set out opportunity for edtech
The minister for apprenticeships and skills, Gillian Keegan, will make the opening keynote speech to more than 2,500 college and university representatives at Jisc’s flagship edtech event, Digifest, next week.
With the recent publication of the Barber review on the use of edtech in higher education, and as the UK emerges from the pandemic, Minister Keegan will take a look at how education technology will play a vital role in delivering on the government’s Skills for Jobs white paper, support skills reform and revolutionise education.
Entitled, ‘Timing is everything: the opportunity for edtech in the year ahead’, her session will also reflect on the virtual visits she has made this year, highlight success stories, and note some wider reforms, including T Levels and Institutes of Technology.
A former car factory apprentice, having left school at 16, the minister had a 27-year career in business before becoming an MP for Chichester in 2017.
Minister Keegan’s speech will be delivered via a fully immersive digital platform at 10.20am on Monday 8 March 2021, introduced by Jisc’s CEO Paul Feldman, who will afterwards chair a short question and answer session for delegates.
Paul Feldman says:
“This year’s Digifest comes at a critical time for our members. So much hard work has taken place across universities and colleges to deliver education online over the past year, and I am delighted they will hear from Minister Keegan about the role digital technology will play in the Government’s reforms, as set out in the January white paper.
“In the wake of the pandemic, this is a time to learn from the enforced disruption and acknowledge the important role that technology-enhanced learning can play in meeting the needs of learners, employers and, ultimately, UK plc.
“With government support, the sector can continue its technological transformation.”
About Digifest
Digifest is the UK’s leading edtech conference. 2021 is about reconnecting as an industry to understand how learning and teaching, alongside libraries are at the heart of the transformed student experience.
Taking place in an innovative and interactive online environment across four days (8-11 March), Digifest 2021 will focus on learning and teaching and libraries.
Booking is now closed. All Digifest sessions will be recorded and available free for delegates after the event.