Digital Strategy

Implementation of this strategy will ensure that the University has a robust, reliable, and secure infrastructure that supports the delivery of world-class education and research. The University will provide students with a modern, digitally-enhanced learning experience, and enable academics to conduct and share impactful research. The strategy will enable the University to attract and retain top talent, whether that be students or staff, and maintain its position as a leading academic institution.

We provide the Spaces, Services, Skills and Student & Colleague Experience which mirror our University’s values and underpin its ambitions for sustainable growth. In order to deliver the strategy, the following key transformational priorities have been identified:

• Student journey & CRM

  To enhance our student experience from prospect inquiry to engaged alumni we are investing in our Customer Relationship Management System. Providing a consistent, yet tailored, approach from attraction, recruitment and onboarding through to award and joining our alumni. Students & colleagues have the information they need to manage the whole student journey, integrated with all our varied communications channels and enabled by AI.

• Learning, teaching and assessment

  For our students, colleagues, industry partners and potential employers, we are developing specialist learning spaces to simulate real world scenarios and create authentic learning experiences. We are embracing the opportunities offered by immersive technologies on campus and enhancing virtual spaces, such as simulated science laboratories and the Virtual School of Computing, which are able to keep pace with changes in need and build our teaching capacity and reach. We are exploring the unique benefits of digital platforms to support inclusive, meaningful and authentic assessment, aware of the impact and opportunities of machine learning and generative AI. The delivery of these ’spaces’ enhances our reputation for producing ’ready for the real world’ graduates taught by staff with a future proof academic signature.

• Data & business intelligence

  We are building a Centre of Excellence to drive forward the adoption of a data-centric culture within the University. This CoE will implement our new data platform to address critical technical risks, connect systems and enhance data sharing and reporting. This supports the university operations and strategic decision-making, providing accurate and consistent information from a single source. The CoE will provide stewardship of our data to enhance quality and lift our data literacy skills.

• Disruptive technologies

  We are exploring the use of digital twins, AI and automation in education, research and the student journey. Working with our strategic partners, we are pursuing exciting developments in augmented reality applications and the use of sensor technologies to address some of our key challenges, including best use of our estate on our journey to net zero. This is a clear committment to industry collaboration and innovation.

• Colleague engagement

  To drive a culture of distinction, we are re-imagining the ways we present information digitally to our colleagues. Our redeveloped colleague intranet will focus on our users' key journeys, providing easy search and personalised content. This is complemented by more informal, user created channels on our social media platform for communication and collaboration, enhancing the sense of pride and belonging.

The six themes below contain the main elements of our digital strategy, informed by, and reflective of, our values.