ICT learning

Welcome

"Almost nine out of ten (88%) GB establishments employ IT Users.... Over one quarter of establishments employing IT Users stated that there were gaps in the IT skills of those staff who, on average, needed to increase their IT skills from foundation-intermediate levels to advanced-expert levels to meet the needs of their employers."( IT Insights: Employer Skills Needs, 2004)

The concern here is not for the IT professionals employed by the University to provide and support the systems infrastructure, rather it is the majority of staff users.  How many of these staff would achieve the category of advanced-expert levels in even the core IT applications? This impacts directly on the day to day business of the University and indirectly on students.

In terms of the student experience, for the majority, IT skill levels on entry are basic and sadly, on exit, they show little progress. The University, through many of its programmes of study, does recognise the importance of ALL students graduating with IT skills. Unfortunately, very few of these programmes promote advanced-expert levels of IT user skills.

ICT Learning, part of Academic Services, is charged with promoting  appropriate levels of ICT skills and providing opportunities for staff and students to develop and enhance their skills in information and communications technologies.

We do this through:

• The provision of a wide range of courses aimed at improving the computing skills of staff and students
• Developing our understanding of how advanced-expert IT skill levels could be incorporated within programmes through Free Elective modules for undergraduates and for postgraduates modules
• Working with individual staff or departments to help them to integrate such skills within their own modules
• Providing guidance for staff starting out on projects where IT could aid their effectiveness
• Offering staff and students the opportunity to acquire internationally recognised IT user qualifications.