ALT to play key role in education and technology agenda

The Association for Learning Technology (ALT) will play an important role in meeting the expectations of ICT in education in the near future, the government has revealed.

David Willets, Minister of State for Universities and Science, has underlined the importance of technology and the growing role of ICT in an increasingly digital world.

Speaking before ALT’s September conference, Willets echoed the need to encourage and support the use of digital resources by learners, teachers and lecturers.

“The conference themes ‘increasing productivity and effectiveness’ and ‘meeting the changing expectations and needs of learners, employers, and society’ resonate with this government’s agenda,” he said.

“It therefore gives me great pleasure to put on record our support … I’m sure your conference will generate a great deal of discussion and will advance participants’ understanding. Above all I am confident it will contribute in a practical way to meeting the challenges of the next few years and I wish the conference well.”

Seb Schmoller, chief executive of ALT, said: “If the government is going to do less centrally to promote the astute use of ICT to support learning, this increases the importance of membership organisations like ALT – through our conference and through the joining up we are able to do between institutions and between researchers, practitioners and policy people in the field.

“We very much value the endorsement and encouragement that David Willets has given.”

Mark Astley

(Pictured: ALT chief executive Seb Schmoller)