The educational landscape is changing; the way students expect to go about learning has been altered by social media, on-line resources, MOOCs, and immediate access to all kinds of information. Our Vision 2020 states that over the next few years the University will ‘revolutionise education’.  The new Institute for Learning Innovation and Development (ILIaD) has been created to build a network across faculties to lead on this ambition and help shape the University’s future educational approach.

The University vision is that ILIaD will work with faculties and professional services to help them create and produce innovative learning environments which lead to the greatest student engagement and satisfaction.  In this rapidly developing world staff need to continually update and re-evaluate their approaches to education, and in order to support staff, ILIaD will also be responsible for professional development and ensuring its prioritisation.

ILIaD will also support the ongoing development of doctoral researchers via the Researcher Development Graduate Centre (RDGC).

The creation of ILIaD signals a change in the way such services will interact with staff; rather than having a centre ILIaD staff will work in partnership with staff, faculties and professional services to create communities of practice around delivering educational innovation and research in this area. Staff will be invited to become Affiliates and Associate Members of the Institute – collaborating to achieve its mission.

Sign up for the ILIaD Inaugural Conference on 3 November

THe ILIaD inaugural conference will consider the University’s future educational approach.  What will the approach look like? What will we need to do to make this happen? Will students be happy with the changes? How will research shape our educational offer?

The ILIaD Inaugural Conference will give staff, students and external participants the opportunity to discuss these questions and showcase and celebrate educational innovations. It will also provide participants with the opportunity to discover the many ways to engage with ILIaD and to network with others interested in educational innovation.

Sign up for the conference here.