Continuous Work-force Development for ICT staff : the Media Centre project at

1. Continuous Work-force Development for ICT staff: the Media Centre project at London South Bank University Jim Nottingham (Deputy Director ICT, Project Manager) Paula McIver Nottingham (learning consultant and coordinator) ALT Annual Conference 10th September 2009

2. London South Bank University • 23,500 students based at Elephant & Castle other sites at Havering, Whipps Cross & GOSH. • 59% Female. • 48% part-time, 52% full-time • 50% ethnic minorities • 68% students 24 and older • 73% students undergraduate

3. Planning the Proposal Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund (TQEF) was from the Higher Education Funding Council of England (HEFCE) Ideas for the project proposal came out of the Creative & Cultural Industries Research/Training Project (C&CIRT) a BASS Project at London South Bank University • Corporate Plans • Learning & Teaching Strategy • Staff Development – Staff IT Training • Centre for Learning Support and Development

4. Learning & Teaching Strategy (under review) • Optimal use of new learning technologies in all aspects of learning, teaching and assessment. • Optimisation of resources for learning, human, physical and virtual, appropriate to the needs of students. • To embed ICT within the student experience (e-learning action plan). • e-Learning is included as 1 strand of curriculum innovation in the emerging new strategy. • Clearer articulation between learning, teaching and curriculum development and the resources available to support them. (slide prepared by Sarah Bell – Learning Teaching Enhancement Unit)

5. Media Services The three-year Media Centre project aimed to create facilities, equipment and technical expertise to “to establish a dedicated and fully-fledged Media training centre for staff and students” (McCaffery, TQEF Action Points 08/09). The project presents an innovative approach to using applied research within the institution, developing higher level skills to enhance personal performance, encouraging team development, and scaffolding the process of change.

6. Media Services Media Services (digital) created in Building Services - established working practice and AV in Rooms 2006 Identified future goals within organisation - successful application for Media Centre Project to LSBU from TQEF Fund - reports to the Learning& Teaching Committee Integration with ICT (2nd year of the TQEF MC project) 2009 Expansion of ICT Media Services - average of 150 calls & jobs per month, a formal launch of the integrated new services from the TQEF project in the Autumn term

7. Project Team James Nottingham - Project Manager Gavin Warnock - Technician now Team Leader Media Services Daniel Fenton - Technician, Media Learning Centre, Community Cinema, digital filming and editing Philip Moore - Technician, long term member of staff, core services Patrick Sweeney - Technician, K-pod Print Lab, photography, learning technology Tim Warren - Technician, systems, editing, streaming & digital signage Graham Warnock - Technician, systems, editing, streaming & digital signage Colin Grant - Technician now Team Leader Help Desk Paula McIver Nottingham - Learning Consultant and Project Coordinator

8. Director of ICT Wojtek Adamek Systems Infrastructure Manager Richard Bryant Deputy Director of ICT Jim Nottingham Telecoms Manager Mick Bowler PA/ICT Administrator Georgia Scott Corporate Information Systems Manager Mike Cobham Desktop & Media Services Manager Minesh Chikniwala Systems Team Leader Zubair Fakir Network & Telecoms Team Leader Phillip Wright • 7 Systems • Staff • Leon Walker • Tom Swigg • Ray Butler • Nick Mathews • Harold D’Cruz • Sally Justice • Vacancy Help Desk Team Leader Colin Grant Media Team Leader Gavin Warnock Desktop Team Leader Muz Rahman • 3 Network • Engineers (6) • Shwan Dyllon • Sumon Muhammed • Vacancy • Sarah Oyet (D.I.) • Hichem Dahimene CIS Team Leader Dave Lewis • 4 Business • Analysts • Steve Devereux • Sourav Dalal • Vacancy • Seyi Ogunbona • 2 Systems • Analysts • Ken Rose • Sheila Patel • 7 Desktop • Analysts • Freddie Anosike • Joan Rowe • Dele Okudero • Stefan Parocki • Philip Mortimer • Mark Ferris • Imran Longi • Simon Pegler(RM) • 4 Help Desk • Operators • Rochelle Leacock • Mohamed Ziad • Vacancy (2) • 7 Media • Technicians • Tim Warren • Graham Warnock • Phillip Moore • Patrick Sweeney • Daniel Fenton • Zara Adams • Patience Woghiren • 5 Analyst/ • Programmers • Simon Francis • David Family • Ian Finn • Ende Lambe • Telsy Shaw • John Masey LSBU ICT Structure – 2009 Slide with permission of Wojtek Adamek: Director of ICT

9. TQEF Media Centre Project 3 year project ICT Media Services has carried out consultation and development with LTEU, Staff Development, CLSD, Faculties, Students Staff development Creating new ICT resources Technicians took part in a self-managed work-based learning programme (theory and practice) - the project provided time and resources • i.e. live streaming service and streaming for Blackboard, • 2 new studios - Media Learning Centre and the K-Pod Printing Lab

10. Theory applied to the workplace “Work-based learning is… used as a mode of study for employed people and as a way of introducing change of practices within the workplace. It focuses on learning in and from the workplace where work… provides the focus of the learning programme. It promotes awareness of the workplace as a learning environment and uses this to extend the learner’s capability and individual effectiveness” (Durrant et al. 2009). “development that occurs in the course of or as a consequence of the real work activities that constitute a manager’s job role” (Woodall as seen in Cunningham et al. 2004). Billet views workplace learning as participation in work practice (2004). The workplace is seen as legitimate in its own terms, creating a discrete learning environment (2001) that uses co-participation (2002). Senge (1999) describes this type of approach as co-creation within a learning organisation.

11. Stage 1 Establishing benchmarks Research - consulting policies and staff qualitative, context complex Introducing Work-based learning and training elements ‘10 Sessions’ with Staff IT Training and ‘Kit days’ Envisioning change - planning to embed and sustain outcomes - buy in “getting together and talking about what we wanted to do”

12. Stage 2 It was agreed to merge new ‘project’ services into main Media Services. “We took over as a group in year two” Classroom audio-visual equipment Equipment loans General assistance and consultancy with production of learning resources: Media Learning Centre (L339a) and K-pod Print Lab (K521) Digital photography/camera work Image collections and digital databases Digital/video filming/camera work Digital/video editing Digital/video streaming for Blackboard Digital/video conferencing Digital signage Advisory Group continued to help steer project activity and offer feedback, Pilot projects

13. Stage 3 More investment and integration in ICT Communication/marketing –Media Services integrated with ICT web identity and information base for staff and students, ICT folder (LSBU marketing), Media Services Handbook and brochure Completing fitting out of Technician offices and studios Maintained and upgraded classroom kit and information More training in learning technologies and software Final Cut Pro, web design, Blackboard Version 9

14. Workforce Development • New ‘roles’ to demonstrate and facilitate learning technology • Two members of original group now Team Leaders • Technical staff undertook work-based learning – monitoring work activity (logs), reflection and evaluation, establishing new roles, research, communication & presentation, project planning and project management, team work, meetings, self-assessment of staff development needs, negotiating change • Technical Team represent LSBU at external conferences, events at other HE institutions, and trade shows

15. The Transition • The Transition • Refurbishment • Open plan office • Managers sit with staff • Meeting & break out • areas • Restructuring • Creation of new • managers & team leaders • Internal promotions • Valuing the staff we had • Removing those we • could not change • Training • Leadership – CMI • Personal Development • Technical • Communication • Regular Management & • Team meetings • Departmental meetings – • every 2 months • Computer Services • Department • Low morale • Poor leadership • Lack of any training • Silo working • Antiquated working • conditions • Poor reputation • No external • involvement • IT Help Desk from hell! • Most staff hardworking • & committed • Information & • Communications • Department • Flexible & focused • structure • New leadership • Modern open plan • office environment • Silos eliminated • Staff trained • Happy department • with 75% of original • team! Slide with permission of Wojtek Adamek: Director of ICT Delivering Customer Service Excellence

16. Impact of Project Management has championed process – ICT Director sponsorship – fit in with leadership Priority 1(ICT) - Enhance the student experience and support learning and teaching by providing suitable infrastructure and systems throughout the University Project has been a driver for change within ICT Media Services. • New ICT services roll out for academic staff/students. • Integrated university wide ICT committee work with central services and Faculties. • Promotions and new roles within Team to support learning and teaching within ICT. The ICT Director has observed and received positive feedback from Media Technicians and requested more WBL activity for additional ICT staff. • Better informed Media staff with skills for self-development and teamwork – embedded processes that are retained by the workforce in the institution. • Sustainability – new VC, new strategies.

17. Impact – usefulness to other universities A similar workforce development approach could ensure job continuity and change for ICT staff. Advancing internal staff to new roles and intermediate positions builds upon individual performance and develops existing human resources. Using learning consultants to encourage staff development (internal or external) and targeting higher skills capability as well as competency. Developing staff within ICT services can be phased in with a project framework approach to enable staff to share their expertise.

18. Thanks Continuous Work-force Development for ICT staff: the Media Centre project at London South Bank University Jim Nottingham (Deputy Director ICT, Project Manager) jim.nottingham@lsbu.ac.uk Paula McIver Nottingham (learning consultant and coordinator) paulanottingham@btinternet.com References for presentation upon request.