15th October, 2019
By Paula Macphee, Cranfield University
A group of academic, technical and professional services staff from Aston and Cranfield Universities have been working together to advance thinking in innovative higher education, with the aim to support the creation of a new, state-of-the-art university in Milton Keynes (MK:U).
Milton Keynes, one of the fastest growing cities in the UK, is located at the heart of the Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford arc, placed within an area of the country identified as the UK’s answer to Silicon Valley. A digitally-enabled smart city which is attracting a growing number of entrepreneurial and innovative organisations, recognises the need for a new model university, which will be designed to meet the technological and skills gap challenge, currently faced by industry and recognised by government.
With the aim of offering future students a truly distinctive undergraduate experience in STEM-focused programmes – including entrepreneurship, cyber and robotics – the new university will challenge existing educational models within the HE sector to create a more inclusive and relevant environment in which to study and one which exemplifies the use of innovative learning practices and state of the art education technology.
During the education design phase of MK:U, close working relationships across industry and academia, will lead to the development of new knowledge and intellectual capital by exploring innovative course designs, learning experiences and delivery modes at a national and international level. These exciting findings will not only support the MK:U project but will also benefit the wider HE, business and government communities to think about the future of higher education in a different way.
“Over the course of MK:U’s development, we are going learn a great deal about renewing higher education for the 21st century.
And the findings are going to be invaluable for debates with government, and the nation as a whole, over how the modern-day university is adapting to change, making itself more essential than ever to the UK’s economic health and social vitality.” (Professor Lynette Ryals, Cranfield University, 2018)
The Centre for Innovation in Learning and Education (CILE)
The Centre for Innovation in Learning and Education (CILE) – a collaborative virtual centre of excellence created by Aston and Cranfield Universities – provides a focal point for the development of new knowledge in ground-breaking higher education design. It will coordinate the wider dissemination of research and identified good practice in innovative education to the broader HE community and other interested readers. The research will also contribute to the development of education practices within MK:U.
Contributions to the centre’s activities will come from academics, academic technologists, business engagement staff and professional support services from across all disciplines within both universities in order to maximise the reach of the centre’s activities.
“The new partnership between Cranfield and Aston Universities will leverage their combined skills and expertise in the development of new, high quality and innovative educational provision that will enhance market choice, with improved outcomes for future students.” (Professor Lynette Ryals, Cranfield University)
Collaboration between Aston and Cranfield Universities is operating across many levels through bi-annual workshops and virtual teams which explore topics including course design, curriculum, regulations, recruitment, marketing, educational technology, student personas, professional skills, student experience and assessment. Research into these topics is generating new and exciting ideas that can transform the way we think about higher education to ensure that future provision is well-informed and relevant to both students and industry.
Findings from CILE research will be published in the form of thought-pieces in sector-specific publications, academic journal papers, in-depth reports relating to innovative education and sector conference proceedings. The newly launched CILE website will also publish a series of blogs written by CILE members working on innovative developments. CILE members aim to contribute to shaping a novel and exciting approach to higher education provision within the UK – one that is fit for the future in a rapidly changing digital world.
Up next?
Watch this space for a blog on shaping future cybersecurity course design.
This blog has been produced for the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Education, a Catalyst OfS funded project.