Drupal in Higher Education (panel)

Panel:
Chair - Paul Johnson, HE Specialist, CTI Digital
Panelists
Adrian Ellison, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor & Chief Information Officer University of West London
Billy Wardrop, CMS Service Support Officer at Edinburgh University
Iain Harper Head Of Digital, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

Abstract:

The Higher Education (HE) sector is fiercely competitive on the domestic and global stage rendering the reach of digital presences as essential.

However advancements in alternative education paths such as remote learning, increased regulation in terms of GDPR, information security, and new accessibility laws place an additional burden on universities in the digital space making innovation potentially slow.

Compounding this the global COVID-19 pandemic has caused urgent need to shift face to face education online, rethink how student recruitment is conducted and cast doubt upon student intake numbers. The pace of change must be at unprecedented rate. But are universities equipped to do so?

HE establishments are increasingly turning to Drupal to combat the challenges faced, and introduce greater agility. They aim to deliver user-centred digital experiences that support student recruitment, grow their reputation in academic research and diversify incomes, roll out change faster.

This panel conversation is a rare opportunity to bring together stakeholders from the University of West London, Edinburgh University, and Saïd Business School. All have unique perspectives on similar problems, representing organisations having differing cohorts, scale and complexity, age and legacy systems.

What is the role of Drupal in ensuring each University prospers in this new era where digital is so crucial to the existence of HE? How do approaches vary between institutions? What pitfalls and benefits have they encountered?

This panel will address the above topics and further, giving you a real insight into the benefit of Drupal within the HE space.

*Session Materials*