Digital Learning Team
Meet the Digital Learning Team
The Digital Learning team comprises 4 functional areas - Educational Technology, Learning Design, Digital Learning Faculty Support, and the Management and Projects team - as well as cross-team working groups with a specific pedagogic focus and interest. We work alongside and consult with academics and departments to design courses and use multimedia and online learning tools to create educational experiences.
Iain Gibson
Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your role in the Digital Learning team
I joined the University in April 2024, taking up the new position of Digital Learning Partnerships Manager within FOLD. The primary focus of this role is to manage relationships with external organisations that are working with FOLD as we expand the University’s portfolio of online programmes in collaboration with the academic community.
How did you come to work in DL? Have you always worked in this area?
Prior to joining the University I worked in the commercial sector, most recently for a US-based company that partners with universities to provide Online Programme Management (OPM) services. Before that I worked for the Higher Education Division of an American publishing company that focuses on academic, scientific and professional books and journals. My role at the latter was my introduction to distance learning as I was responsible for expanding the customer base for their online textbook business across EMEA before establishing their UK-based OPM operation as they moved into that space.
How do you see the future of digital learning evolving, and what excites you most about it?
In response to the UK Government’s focus of lifelong learning, through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) we are seeing an increase in conversations around the benefit and relevance of short courses and standalone modules. Linked to this are discussions around stackable credentials.
This is an exciting time to be involved in online learning provision and I am keen our portfolio of programmes develop further over the coming years as we adapt our offering to meet changing market demand.