Beyond the Technology: demonstrating digital transformation - a strategy for flexible learning

In this episode of our mini-series on demonstrating digital transformation, Elizabeth Newall, senior sector specialist in the higher education and research directorate at Jisc, is joined by representatives of the flexible learning programme at the University of Manchester: Professor Dan George, associate vice president for blended and flexible learning, Professor Caroline Bowsher, university academic theme lead for the digital learning environment and Professor Jane Mooney, university academic theme lead for digital skills and literacy.

Jisc recently hosted a demonstrating digital transformation event at the University of Manchester, and in this podcast we’ll hear more about the work that Dan, Caroline and Jane have been doing to support digital transformation as part of Manchester’s flexible learning programme.

The conversation begins with Dan sharing the University of Manchester’s definition of flexible learning and the origins of the flexible learning programme. Dan explains how the university’s current strategy set them on a path towards increased student choice to enable their offering to be flexible by design and flexible by delivery.

Jane follows this up by describing how Jisc’s resources, such as the digital transformation framework and maturity model which they have recently piloted, have supported them in the flexible learning programme. Caroline discusses how their targeted approach to digital maturity allows them to focus the conversations in around specific areas of the model, so that they get really specific outcomes and next steps to follow up on.

Dan talks about how the maturity model workshops were well received by key stakeholders and the executive level at the university and touches on the special relationship with external civic organisations.

Lastly, the team talk about why they wanted to host a demonstrating digital transformation event and what the success of the day meant to them.