Top Appointments For Senior Staff
19 July 2012
Trudy Newton, Head of IT Service Delivery, has been appointed as Chair of the Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association Annual Conference. Simon Birkett, Technology Enhanced Learning Manager in the Institute for Learning Enhancement and Innovation, is the new Chair of the Standing Conference for Heads of Media Services (SCHOMS).
Simon, with Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Liz Barnes, at the opening of the University's B226 advanced classroom.
Trudy Newton and Simon Birkett are living proof that if you want to get ahead, the University of Derby is the place to go.
In a rare double appointment the University is extremely proud to boast their appointment to the Executive Boards of two UK-wide university professional bodies.
Simon - Technology Enhanced Learning Manager in the Institute for Learning Enhancement and Innovation - is the new Chair of the Standing Conference for Heads of Media Services (SCHOMS), the professional body for heads of services working within UK Higher Education.
Trudy, who is Head of IT Service Delivery, has been appointed as Chair of the Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association (UCISA) Annual Conference, the premier IT event for UK universities and colleges, and gains a seat on the UCISA National Executive Committee.
Simon, who organized the 2007 SCHOMS Annual Conference when it was hosted by the University of Derby at Buxton, said: ''I'm delighted to have been given this opportunity to work at a national level and having such a close link in to UCISA, with Trudy's appointment, is both advantageous and unique to Derby."
Trudy added: "I'm very proud that this year, both Simon and I will get the opportunity to represent Derby in a national capacity."
Her organization, UCISA, represents almost all of the major UK universities and higher education colleges. It also has a growing membership among further education colleges, other educational institutions, and commercial organisations interested in information systems and technology in UK education.
UCISA provides a network of contacts and a powerful lobbying voice. Information systems and technology are increasingly important in further and higher education. Government, funding bodies and powerful commercial interests recognise this.
In this ever more complex and demanding climate, UCISA plays a vital role as the key membership organisation representing those responsible for delivering information systems and technology services in universities, colleges and related institutions.
SCHOMS leads and manages a diverse set of educational, media and institutional support services. It gives strategic direction to support and promote excellence in teaching and learning practice, ranging from the production of teaching materials to the audio-visual technology deployed in teaching spaces. It constantly evaluates emerging technologies and leads in the design of innovative teaching spaces.
Simon, who takes over the SCHOMS Chair after seven years as a member, said: "I'm looking forward to raising the profile of Derby nationally in the many areas of innovation that LEI are involved in."
