This document discusses the concept of a digital university and presents two case studies of universities exploring their digital futures. It provides context around the impact of digital technologies on higher education and outlines key themes of a digital university like digital participation, information literacy, curriculum design, and learning environments. Case studies of Edinburgh Napier University and Glasgow Caledonian University describe their efforts to define and work towards a digital vision through consultation, benchmarking, and strategy development. Both aim to enhance their digital infrastructure, literacy, and learning/teaching to create more flexible, engaged, and globally connected digital university experiences.

1. Preparing for The Zone: Understanding,
Defining and Sharing a University Wide
Digital Future
Sheila MacNeill, GCU
Keith Smyth, UHI
Bill Johnston, University of Strathclyde
ALT-C 2014

2. “The new competition, the real threat . . . is the emergence of
entirely new models of university which are seeking to exploit the
radically changed circumstances that are the result of
globalisation and the digital revolution.”
An Avalanche is coming, Higher Education and the Revolution Ahead IPPR , March
2013
(http://www.ippr.org/publication/55/10432/an-avalanche-is-coming-higher-education-
and-the-revolution-ahead)

3. “There is no doubt that digital technologies have had a
profound impact upon the management of learning.
Institutions can now recruit, register, monitor, and report on
students with a new economy, efficiency, and (sometimes)
creativity yet, evidence of digital technologies producing real
transformation in learning and teaching remains elusive”
Decoding Learning, the proof, promise and potential of digital education
Nesta, November 2012
(http://www.nesta.org.uk/library/documentsDecodingLearningReport_v12.pdf)

4. A Digital University: key themes
Digital
Participation
Information
Literacy
Curriculum &
Course Design
Learning
Environments

5. Digital University Matrix
Digital Participation Information Literacy
*Glocalization
*Widening access
*Civic role and responsibilities
*Community engagement
*Networks (human and digital)
*Technological affordances
*High level concepts and perceptions
influencing practice
*Staff & student engagement and
development
*Effective development and use of
infrastructure
Curriculum and Course Design Learning Environment
*Constructive alignment
*Curriculum representations, course
management, pedagogical innovation
*Recruitment and marketing
*Reporting, data, analytics
*Physical and digital
*Pedagogical and social
*Research and enquiry
*Staff and Resources

6. https://howsheilaseesit.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/exploring-the-digital-university-next-steps-digtial-university-ecosystems/

7. Case Study 1:
Edinburgh Napier University :
Digital Futures Working Group

8. Background
• Initial round table discussion about current digital practice
and provision within the University in September 2012
• ‘Digital Futures: exploring Edinburgh Napier University’s
technological ambitions’ Symposium December 2012
• Digital Futures Working Group formed to further explore
current practice and future possibilities in six key areas, with
input from external critical friends

9. Developing digital literacies
Digital student support provision
Digitally enhanced education
Digital communication and outreach
Digital research and leadership
Digital infrastructure and integration

10. Three key outputs
1. An ‘external benchmarking’ report summarising policy and
examples of current practice within the sector
2. An internal position report summarising current and emerging
practice and developments relating to each theme
3. A final report setting out short term priorities and
recommendations to 2016/17 and longer term to 2019/20

11. Key ‘short term’ issues
• Consistency of the student online learning experience
• Distribution of support for staff to engage with technology-enhanced
learning, teaching and assessment, and the creation
of a ‘hub’ to support good and innovative practice
• Embedding the development of digital literacies within
programmes, and harnessing discipline specific technology
• Improving how we use digital approaches for scholarship,
research and knowledge exchange opportunities
• Consolidating outward-facing digital resources

12. Emerging aspirations
• A digitally enhanced and digitally distributed curriculum
• Engagement within professional communities
• Locating the digital in a programme focused approach including
collaboration and contributing to public bodies of knowledge
• Locating discussions about digital practice in professional review
• Digital innovation funding (open to all)
• Strategic funding in key areas of digital research and scholarship,
digital knowledge transfer, and expanding online CPD
• Digital outreach and digitally supported social interaction
• Harnessing ‘open educational practices’ in ways that make sense
for a post-1992 institution with strong widening access agenda

13. Case Study 2:
GCU
Developing our Digital Future

15. Digital Participation Digital & Information Literacy
Our vision is to be a successful international university
delivering access and excellence, with a strong commitment
to the common good.
Create successful global graduates and citizens and deliver
economic and social benefit for the communities we serve
Globally networked
Global Learning
Enriching cities and communities
Engaging globally
Innovating for social impact
Digital Learning/technology
Inclusive, accessible learning
Collaborative working within GCU and with our partners
Globally-recognised profile, positioning and esteem
Digital Development
Curriculum& Course Design Learning Environment
Engaged Learning
Personalised Learning
Flexible Learning
Real world problem solving
Transforming lives through education and research
Our mission as a University is to provide an outstanding
inclusive learning environment
Flexible Learning
Broader and deeper learning
Buildings are better connected
Social learning spaces and improved academic teaching areas,
services and facilities
A vibrant and dynamic technological and physical
infrastructure
Current
mission/vision/KPI
s
Strategy for
Learning
Heart of the
Campus
Developing 2020
Strategy

16. Digital University Consultation Day
• Cross Institution Event
• Individual and institutional experience of digital participation
• Present, short-term (2015), longer term (2020): realities
and aspirations

21. Emerging Themes
• Infrastructure – digital and physical
• Digital Literacy – staff and students
• Learning and Teaching technology implementation plans
• Learning Analytics
• Open Education an digital participation
• Development of a GCU specific digital university definition
and identity
• Cohering around student engagement

22. Next steps
• Edinburgh Napier are planning for the implementation stage of
their digital futures consultation, including governance and
allocation of resources. http://staff.napier.ac.uk/services/vice-principal-academic/
academic/strategyactivity/DigitalFutures/Pages/Digital-Futures.aspx.
• GCU continuing developing institutional approach.
• We are interested in engaging with others to collectively
explore the concept and implications of the digital university

23. Contact details
Sheila MacNeill
sheila.macneill@gcu.ac.uk @sheilmcn
Keith Smyth
keith.smyth@uhi.ac.uk @smythkrs
Bill Johnston
b.johnston@strath.ac.uk