We're working to ensure staff in universities and colleges are equipped for a changing digital environment.
Effective and appropriate use of technology by university and college staff is vital in providing an enhanced student experience and in realising a good return on investment in the digital environment.
What we’re doing
We’re working with stakeholders and sector bodies to:
- Provide clear guidance on the digital skills and capabilities that are required for a range of staff roles
- Equip leaders and staff with the tools and resources they need to improve digital capability at a local or institutional level
Building on our previous work on developing digital literacies for staff and students and through a consultation with a range of stakeholders using our co-design approach, we identified the current challenges institutions face when developing the digital capabilities of their staff and students.
Digital capability framework
Our digital capability framework (pdf) describes the skills needed by staff from a wide range of academic, administrative and professional roles to thrive in a digital environment.
Supporting resources
Our model is supported by the following tools and resources:
Discovery tool (beta)
Our discovery tool (beta) has been designed to support individuals and managers in a range of roles by helping them to identify and reflect on their current digital capability and make plans to improve their capability using a customised play list of resources. We've also produced some guidance on how to use the discovery tool (pdf) and some FAQs (pdf) on the tool and associated resources which you may find helpful.
We have completed a pilot of the discovery tool with fourteen universities and colleges. To read more about the journeys of those involved in the pilot see below:
- Cardiff University (pdf)
- Coleg y Cymoedd (pdf)
- University of Derby (pdf)
- University of Hertfordshire (pdf)
- Hull College Group (pdf)
- The Open University (pdf)
We are using the feedback gathered to make enhancements to the tool, which will include a move to a new and exciting new platform with more tailored question sets ready for December 2017.
If you are interested in working with us to pilot the new tool from December 2017 – May 2018 please complete the expression of interest form. Follow developments by visiting our project blog.
Role profiles
We’ve designed a series of role profiles, which align to the framework and highlight the digital capabilities associated with particular roles. The profiles have been developed collaboratively and mapped to relevant professional frameworks. They are designed to support team leaders in identifying the digital capabilities their teams need.
- HE teacher (pdf)
- FE and skills teacher (pdf)
- Library and information professional (pdf)
- Learning technologist (pdf)
- Leader (pdf)
- Researcher (pdf)
- Learner (pdf)
In collaboration with the Higher Education Academy (HEA), we have also deveoped a digital lens on the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF).
Resources to support organisational approaches
Guide
Our guide to developing organisational approaches to digital capability has been created to support organisations with developing their culture, infrastructure and practices to grow organisational digital capability and enable individual digital capabilities to flourish.
Briefing
Our briefing, developing organisational approaches to digital capability (pdf) is designed to help you, as an organisational lead, consider how our resources can help build digital capability in your organisation.
It includes a model describing the digitally-capable organisation (pdf) as well as a step-by-step guide (pdf) with practical actions and activities for you to consider when building digital capability in your organisation (pdf).
Audit tools and checklists
Our editable audit tool (Word doc) and checklist (Word doc) give you a place to start on your journey, offering prompts for identifying priorities for development.
We've also developed a checklist for curriculum developers (Word doc) to help course teams assess how well a course of study is preparing learners with the right kinds of digital capabilities.
Case studies
Our case studies highlight the journeys taken towards digital capability to date by universities and colleges:
- Hillcroft College: small is (digitally) beautiful (pdf)
- Anglia Ruskin University: a digital literacy framework for staff and students (pdf)
- Bournemouth University: a new vision for learning (pdf)
- Epping Forest: unleashing student creativity (pdf)
- Glasgow Caledonian University: a focus on flexible curriculum design (pdf)
- Lancaster University: digital fluency for everyone (pdf)
- University of Southampton: working in partnership with students (pdf)
- The Open University: developing a digital mindset (pdf)
- University of Lincoln: how digital are you? (pdf)
- North Lindsey College: digital ‘missions’ and digital teams (pdf)
- Nottingham Trent University: a continuum of support (pdf)
- Salford City College: cascading skills through staff and student champions (pdf)
- South Eastern Regional College: A whole college approach to developing digital capabilities (pdf)
- University College London: modern variations on a radical tradition (pdf)
- University of Brighton: digital literacies in professional development and the curriculum (pdf)
Further resources
Our report deepening digital know-how: building digital talent (pdf) identifies key issues and future requirements for the digital capabilities of staff in UK HE and FE.
Join our community mailing list
To share your experiences, hear from others and continue discussions around staff and student digital capabilities, join our community of practice via the digital capabilities JiscMail list.
Get involved in our discovery tool pilot
We're looking for UK universities, colleges and providers to work with us on the next pilot of the digital capability discovery tool. If you're interested, complete our expression of interest form by 31 October 2017.
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