Hi there!
Some quick background:
I’ve worked in UK higher education for over 25 years. Starting out as a film studies academic at Cardiff University, I also taught courses on popular music culture. After becoming Head of Film and Media at the University of Wales, Lampeter, I joined the senior management team as Dean and Head of School, helping steer the institution through the merger that created the University of Wales: Trinity Saint David. I also led development of Trinity Saint David’s first Learning and Teaching Strategy.
At the Open University in Wales, where I was Assistant Director (Development, Teaching and Learning), I was responsible for admissions and student experience for the University’s 7500 students in Wales as well as more than 1000 postgraduate education students who came from all over the world. I led the development of a bilingual OER platform, OpenLearn Cymru, and worked closely with the Welsh Government, HEFCW and Universities Wales on matters relating to part-time and digital education.
In 2018, we relocated to Scotland after my wife was appointed to lead the Chinese language programme for the University of Edinburgh. For the same institution, I was commisioned to conduct a strategic review of online provision in the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (which accounts for over 70% of the University’s online students).
We have two lovely kids who have both settled into their new life in Edinburgh really well and I spend a good part of my week as my 7yo daughter’s PA, managing her social calendar! I miss getting to see my beloved Cardiff City live but we faithfully follow the exploits of the Welsh national football and rugby teams from our new Celtic vantage point. And music… well, over time, you can find out a little about my passion for records and gigs on the music section of this blog, should you be that way inclined.