Beyond the Technology: The education 4.0 podcast

Recorded live at Digifest 2025, this episode features a discussion of previous participants from the digital leaders programme who have demonstrated and implemented their learning within their organisations as they reflect on the Digifest 2025 themes of data-informed education, student success, learning for the future, technology for good, and collaboration for impact.

Watch a video version of the podcast.

Show notes

• Sign up for Digifest 2026 updates
• Learn more about the digital leaders programme
• Book on to the digital leaders programme
• Subscribe to Headlines - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you.

If you missed the generative AI in education panel at Digifest 2025, here’s your chance to hear our interview with panellist Philippa Armstrong, learning technology coach at Nottingham College, recorded live at the event. Philippa discusses the current uses, potential benefits and concerns associated with generative AI in education.

What happens when generative AI moves from buzzword to reality? Philippa explores real-world lessons learned, opportunities and concerns as we cut through the hype to discover what it takes to move from promise to practice.

Watch a video version of the podcast

Show notes

• Sign up for Digifest 2026 updates
• Explore our work to support the adoption of generative AI
• Read our primer on generative AI
• Subscribe to Headlines - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you.

Andrew McFadyen and Dom Walker meet to discuss how the DEI survey reveals the evolving digital environment in education for students, learners and staff across FE and HE.

The surveys take between 5 and 10 minutes to complete and are concise but comprehensive enough to offer insights so organisations can tailor their decision making and planning around digital investment and resource development.

Dom talks about this year’s launch on 9 April of a centralised national survey for FE. This is open to individual teaching staff and professional services staff across the UK directly, to do the survey even if their colleges aren't making the survey available locally.

This is your chance if you’re involved in FE to share your voice and digital experiences.

Listen to the full episode to hear about previous DEI survey themes and emerging trends in AI. You’ll also find out how with your help we can build our picture of FE digital experience to feedback and advise the FE sector and wider community.  

Show notes

• Learn more about the digital experience insights (DEI) surveys
• View the digital experience insights reports
• Subscribe to Headlines - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you.

Digifest 2025 may be over but here’s your chance to hear one of the podcasts recorded live at the event. Host Iwan Lehnert welcomes Mark Andrews, principal strategic development manager at Adobe and Jonathan Hofgartner, head of learning and teaching - licensing at Jisc to discuss how integrating Adobe Express into curriculum design and delivery aligns with key themes in Jisc’s digital transformation framework for higher education. Discover how insights on digital culture and curriculum development are shaping the partnership between Jisc and Adobe to support institutions who have invested in Adobe Express via Jisc's software licensing.

Watch a video version of the podcast.

Show notes

• Sign up for Digifest 2026 updates
• Learn more about the Transforming Together: Leading and Learning programme
• Read about Jisc’s framework for digital transformation in higher education
• Visit the Chest website to learn about the Jisc Adobe ETLA agreement with new Adobe Express option
• Subscribe to Headlines - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you.

With Digifest 2025 on the horizon, in this episode of Beyond the Technology host Iwan Lehnert meets with Rob Wraith, head of learning technology and digital learning at NCG to discuss his breakout session at the event.

Rob begins the conversation by giving a preview of his upcoming Digifest 2025 presentation on empowering employability with digital solutions to drive skills development, touching on the adoption of virtual reality and virtual environments, as well as making use of technology that is already embedded in the classroom.

Next, Rob shares NCG’s approach to using digital learning to enhance the student experience, and the importance of ensuring that any software is as inclusive and accessible as possible.

Listen to the full episode to also hear what Rob is looking forward to at Digifest, advice on integrating digital tools and more.

Show notes

• Connect with Rob on LinkedIn
• Visit the NCG website
• Register for Digifest 2025
• Subscribe to Headlines - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you.

We caught up with our head of analytics, James Hodgkin, at the launch of learning analytics.

James talks about the new features available, the importance of people at the heart of data and future plans for the updated platform including student wellbeing.

Show notes

In this episode of our further education and skills (FE) podcasts, host Andrew McFadyen talks to Phil Whitehead from DN Colleges Group. Throughout this series, hosts Andrew and Louisa are joined by experts from further education colleges to shine a light on how they support digital development through the use of Jisc tools, such as the digital elevation tool, building digital capability service and digital experience insights surveys.

Phil starts by sharing his journey from secondary school teacher to Director of Academic Services and Digital Learning, and finding success with his YouTube channel, Teachblend.

Next, Phil discusses his current project, immersive rooms, and how they can foster collaboration with other colleges as well as reducing travel for learners.

Phil explains how he’s used the Jisc building digital capability tool to underpin their DN Digital Skills program, building staff digital capability and resilience.

Listen to the full episode to also hear how Phil connects with peers in the sector, advice for using digital technology in the classroom, and how he feels the role of the FE teacher might change over time.

Show notes

• Visit the DN Colleges Group website
• Connect with Phil on LinkedIn
• View Phil’s YouTube channel, Teachblend
• Follow Phil on Bluesky
• Read more about the immersive rooms
• Subscribe to Headlines - our newsletter which has all the latest edtech news, guidance and events tailored to you.

Exploring how we can bridge digital inequity for international and transnational students, with insights from experts across Nigeria, Pakistan, and the UK.

We delve into the complexities of digital inequity faced by international and transnational education students, focusing on insights from experts and lived experiences in Nigeria, Pakistan, and the UK. We discuss the impact of infrastructure disparities, cultural shifts in digital learning, and the importance of preparing students for technological transitions before arriving in the UK. 

Elizabeth Newall, senior sector specialist at Jisc, invites Doctor Rafael Escalon Reynoso, CEO at the  Portulans Institute, Doctor Sonia Saleem, founder and CEO of Socio Engineering Technologies, and Ikechukwu Okoye, secretary general for the Nigeria Esports Federation and the director of Afri Start Innovation Hub, to share their insights on bridging digital inequity.  

The conversation highlights the growing investments in digital maturity, the challenges of integrating technology into education, and the pivotal role of public-private partnerships and collaboration in fostering equitable access to digital tools and resources for students worldwide.

Show notes

• Views shared by beyond the technology guests do not necessarily represent the views of Jisc
• Subscribe to our Headlines newsletter, for all the latest news, guidance and events tailored to you
• If you want to come on the show, or have any questions,  get in touch with us by emailing podcast@jisc.ac.uk
• Find out more about the researching international students' digital experience project. Dive deeper into the Portulans institute reports
• Learn more about the Nigeria E-sports Federation
• Download Briefing paper - Portulans (BP 4) Digital country profiles: international students’ digital experiences in relation to their home country’s civil digital infrastructure (pdf)