In this week's episode, the first in our mini-series "Digital Frontiers in Higher Education," Tim Burnett chats with Lesley O'Keeffe, former Registrar at Brunel University London.

With over 16 years of experience in higher education, Lesley shares insights from her extensive career in academic registry and student services.

They discuss:

• The evolution of digital examinations in higher education, including Brunel University's successful implementation of a "bring your own device" approach that reached 90% digital exams post-COVID

• The growing importance of student welfare considerations in examination settings, including the impact of recent case law that's changing how universities accommodate students with additional needs

• How assessment methods are evolving to balance academic integrity with student wellbeing, exploring the tension between summative examinations and more frequent, authentic assessment approaches

Lesley shares fascinating insights about the operational challenges of managing examinations on a large scale, including infrastructure considerations for digital assessments.

She discusses how universities are responding to the increasing number of students requiring specific accommodations for exams due to disabilities or mental health conditions.

The conversation explores the complexities of balancing the need to reduce assessment burden on academic staff while providing students with regular feedback through more authentic assessment approaches.

Having recently transitioned from a permanent role to working as an interim professional, Lesley offers a unique perspective on how different universities structure their academic services and student support functions.

Connect with Lesley O'Keefe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-o-keeffe-ba7b26111/

Connect with Tim Burnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tburnett/

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