Forth Valley College’s Assistive Technology Coordinator – Laura Hutton – will be one of only two Scottish based Jisc Community Champions at this year’s Digifest event in Birmingham from 10-11 March.
She has also been awarded a Bursary to allow her to travel down for the event, attend a special dinner and will be given the opportunity – along with only 11 other ‘Champions’ from across the UK - to network and share best practice with guest speakers during her time at the International Conference centre.
Digifest is the edtech event for middle and senior-level managers and change leaders in further and higher education and over two days celebrates the power and possibilities of digital technologies and how they shape the way subjects are taught and how students learn, live and work in the 21st century.
Laura – who is also a member of the Assistive Technology Network steering group - was nominated by Kellie Mote Jisc’s Subject Specialist: Strategy (accessibility). Kellie put Laura’s name forward as Jisc were looking to recognise members of the digital community who go the extra mile to bring peers together and share learning outside of their institution.
Kellie, said: “I put Laura’s name forward because she has consistently supported the work of the member-led Assistive Technology Network. She is an enthusiastic and positive participant in this steering group and has a passionate presence in face-to-face events - facilitating focus groups and encouraging others to join in.
“She understands the challenges of assistive technologists in the sector and keeps the focus on what practitioners really need. Although based in Forth Valley College in Scotland, which can make getting to events further afield more difficult, she always does what she can to attend and give practical support, which is an enormous help. Laura is a positive, influential force in her own college and is well-respected by others across the sector.”
Laura, said: “I was really surprised to have been nominated to become a Community Champion, but I am really looking forward to going and am excited at the prospect of Digifest 2020.
“This recognition definitely means that we as a college are seen to be being proactive in the sector and that can only be a good thing. I have been to Digifest before and it is an amazing event, but going there as a Champion will allow me to network more and talk with very influential guest speakers and I will make the most of that. People will remember that it was someone from Forth Valley College that asked specific and pertinent questions and was eager to talk to them so that our college could share best practice.”