In this episode, host Charles Knight is joined by Laura Milne, Head of Digital Education at the University of Chester to discuss the ever increasing role of technology in higher education teaching and learning.

They cover artificial intelligence, virtual learning environments and their pros and cons, as well as the role technology plays in making higher education as accessible as possible for as many different people as possible. They also discuss some of the challenges that can arise through the use of technology, such as ensuring assessments are fair and deliver the right learning outcomes for students.

In this episode of Talking Transformation, Professor Sarah Williams discusses her experience at Buckinghamshire New University when under scrutiny from the Office for Students. She discusses the importance of transparent communication with regulators, describing openness and humility as essential for constructive engagement.

Reflecting on institutional culture, she advocates for sector-wide transparency, arguing that openly sharing challenges and not just successes, enables collective growth. The conversation highlights how regulatory challenges can become transformative opportunities when approached with honesty and collaborative spirit.

This episode features host Dr Elliott Spaeth from Advance HE discussing compassionate pedagogy with Dr Claire Killingback (University of Hull) and Rosie Jones (Teesside University).

They explore what compassion means in higher education: recognising student distress, responding proactively, supporting wellbeing, and seeing students as whole people. The conversation addresses pushback against compassion from staff worried about workload and boundaries, and discusses how institutions can embed compassion into policies and processes.

Key themes include the importance of listening, avoiding rigid boundaries whilst maintaining professional roles, co-creating supportive frameworks with students, and extending compassion to staff as well as students.