45. Using VR to tackle the gender disparity in STEM education
Beyond the Technology: The education 4.0 podcast
Release Date: 03/07/2024
70. Transformational co-design at the University of Chester
Beyond the Technology: The education 4.0 podcast
In this episode, Simon Birkett chats to Jackie Potter, Helen O’Sullivan and Laura Milne from the University of Chester about their digital transformation journey, from beginning to work through Jisc’s digital maturity model, to redesigning their VLE. The guests begin by reflecting on their recent demonstrating digital transformation event held at the university, showcasing their plans for learning development and the use of technology for learners. The conversation then turns to the importance of culture, people and process for successful digital transformation, with Jackie, Helen and...
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69. Digifest 2025 - How are universities enabling a more inclusive digital environment for their international students?
Beyond the Technology: The education 4.0 podcast
In this podcast recorded live at Digifest 2025, hear from University of Leeds and University of Northampton on how they are using Jisc's research on international students’ digital experience, alongside building digital capability and insights from student survey data. Learn how they've shaped their support systems to better assist international students and foster a more inclusive digital experience for all. . Show notes Read and of Jisc’s international students’ digital experience report Learn more about Jisc’s - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance...
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68. Digifest 2025 - Esports - the digital revolution in education
Beyond the Technology: The education 4.0 podcast
This podcast, recorded live at Digifest 2025, will support your understanding and implementation of Esports curriculum through British Esports' endorsed programmes and why you should join this digital revolution in education. Guests Tom Dore and Andy Miah explain the growing global phenomenon of the Esports industry, how this coincides with Esports in education and how you can join the hundreds of schools and colleges that are already part of this revolution through qualifications with Leadership Skills Foundation, Pearson and through their participation in the British Esports Student Champs....
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67. Digifest 2025 - How digital leaders meet tomorrow
Beyond the Technology: The education 4.0 podcast
Recorded live at Digifest 2025, this episode features a discussion of previous participants from the digital leaders programme who have demonstrated and implemented their learning within their organisations as they reflect on the Digifest 2025 themes of data-informed education, student success, learning for the future, technology for good, and collaboration for impact. . Show notes - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you.
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66. Digifest 2025 - Generative AI in education – staff voices and real-world lessons
Beyond the Technology: The education 4.0 podcast
If you missed the generative AI in education panel at Digifest 2025, here’s your chance to hear our interview with panellist Philippa Armstrong, learning technology coach at Nottingham College, recorded live at the event. Philippa discusses the current uses, potential benefits and concerns associated with generative AI in education. What happens when generative AI moves from buzzword to reality? Philippa explores real-world lessons learned, opportunities and concerns as we cut through the hype to discover what it takes to move from promise to practice. Show notes Explore our Read our ...
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65. Going national with the DEI FE survey: building the bigger picture of the FE digital landscape
Beyond the Technology: The education 4.0 podcast
Andrew McFadyen and Dom Walker meet to discuss how the DEI survey reveals the evolving digital environment in education for students, learners and staff across FE and HE. The surveys take between 5 and 10 minutes to complete and are concise but comprehensive enough to offer insights so organisations can tailor their decision making and planning around digital investment and resource development. Dom talks about this year’s launch on 9 April of a centralised national survey for FE. This is open to individual teaching staff and professional services staff across the UK directly, to do the...
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64. Digifest 2025 – Digital transformation in action - empowering students through Adobe Express
Beyond the Technology: The education 4.0 podcast
Digifest 2025 may be over but here’s your chance to hear one of the podcasts recorded live at the event. Host Iwan Lehnert welcomes Mark Andrews, principal strategic development manager at Adobe and Jonathan Hofgartner, head of learning and teaching - licensing at Jisc to discuss how integrating Adobe Express into curriculum design and delivery aligns with key themes in Jisc’s digital transformation framework for higher education. Discover how insights on digital culture and curriculum development are shaping the partnership between Jisc and Adobe to support institutions who have invested...
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63. AI, innovation, and the future of learning at Queen’s University Belfast
Beyond the Technology: The education 4.0 podcast
Simon Birkett is joined by Professor Phil Hanna, Stefanie Savage-Campbell, and Dr. Aidan Deery from Queen's University Belfast to discuss embracing AI, digital transformation, and the evolving role of education. The team share how Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) is taking a proactive approach to AI, focusing on innovation and student success while balancing risks and opportunities. They go on to highlight the university’s focus on values, behaviours, and adaptability in digital education discussing how fostering a supportive culture enables students and staff to...
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62. Digifest 2025 – Using digital solutions to enhance employability
Beyond the Technology: The education 4.0 podcast
With Digifest 2025 on the horizon, in this episode of Beyond the Technology host Iwan Lehnert meets with Rob Wraith, head of learning technology and digital learning at NCG to discuss his breakout session at the event. Rob begins the conversation by giving a preview of his upcoming Digifest 2025 presentation on empowering employability with digital solutions to drive skills development, touching on the adoption of virtual reality and virtual environments, as well as making use of technology that is already embedded in the classroom. Next, Rob shares NCG’s approach to using digital learning...
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61. Learning analytics: the people behind the data
Beyond the Technology: The education 4.0 podcast
We caught up with our head of analytics, James Hodgkin, at the launch of learning analytics. James talks about the new features available, the importance of people at the heart of data and future plans for the updated platform including student wellbeing. Show notes Learn more about the Read our blog on the Listen to our tech takes podcast, Read the - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you
info_outlineIn this episode of the Beyond the Technology podcast, Fiona Steel, graduate teaching assistant at Leeds Beckett University, joins Heidi Fraser-Krauss, Jisc’s CEO, to discuss using virtual reality (VR) to tackle the gender disparity in STEM education. Fiona is delivering a lightning talk session on this topic at Digifest. So, if you enjoy this conversation, be sure to attend her talk at 11:30 on Wednesday 13 March at the Digifest event, taking place in Birmingham and online.
Fiona begins by looking at the complex issue of gender disparity in STEM education and careers and why they still remain male-dominated. She tells us about her hopes for encouraging more women, girls and non-binary learners to engage in STEM subjects, without alienating anyone else, to move society forwards.
Fiona explains how VR can be used in the classroom to tackle gender disparity by making learning content more inclusive, accessible and engaging, showcasing diverse role models and perspectives and challenging stereotypes.
Listen to the full episode now, and if you enjoy this episode, look out for Fiona’s lightning talk at Digifest on 13 March.
Show notes
- Find out more about Digifest 2024 and imagine the future of education and research
- Subscribe to Headlines - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you
- Get in touch with us at [email protected] if you’d like to come on the show or know someone who might suit the series