Research contents
Learning objects and learning design
Learning interaction and networked communities
Informal eLearning
Funded projects

The Higher Education Academy is the UK central body to support the enhancement of learning and teaching in higher education. 24 Subject Centres promote the sharing of innovation and good practices in learning and teaching, including the use of information and communications technology (ICT). These Subject Centres provide a service to all the universities and higher education institutes in the country. The centres were formerly part of the Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN).

London Metropolitan University was a major partner in the Subject Centre for the Information and Computer Sciences. This Centre covers all the HE Computing and Library and Information Studies departments in the UK. The other partners are: the University of Ulster who host the administrative core of the centre, Loughborough University, and the Universities of Warwick and Heriot-Watt.

The main role of the Learning Technology Research Institute was to provide pedagogical leadership for the Centre. Professor Tom Boyle was Assistant Director of the Centre, with specific responsibility for pedagogy.

The LTRI contributions to the activities of the Centre included:

• visiting universities to provide support in pedagogical innovation, especially in the use of ICT to support learning
• running London based workshops and seminars
• promoting the Centre on a national and international basis
• leading electronic focus groups
• hosting the Annual Conference in August 2001.

LTRI had a close relationship with the other partners in the Centre. We worked together to provide a high quality support service for tutors. Through the conference, workshops and journal we supported innovation and research in pedagogy and learning technology.

The Centre also provides an extensive Web service for the Information and Computer Science community.

Further information on the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Information and Computer Science centre can be found on their web site: http://www.ics.heacademy.ac.uk

The Higher Education Academy was formed in May 2004 from a merger of the Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (ILTHE), the Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN), and the TQEF National Co-ordination Team (NCT). It is an independent organisation funded by grants from the four UK funding bodies, subscriptions from higher education institutions, individual fees from practitioners, and grant and contract income for specific initiatives. See: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk

Contact details

Professor Tom Boyle
Learning Technology Research Institute
London Metropolitan University
35 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8AA
Email: t.boyle@londonmet.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)207 749 3757
Fax: +44 (0)207 749 3781
WWW: http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/ltri

Last updated 21 December, 2010