In today’s rapidly changing educational landscape, support providers within higher education institutions (HEIs) are increasingly important for shaping the future of learning and driving digital innovation. Centres for teaching and learning, audiovisual centres, learning innovation centres, course design and development services, and similar departments play a vital role in supporting media-enhanced teaching and innovative digital practices. The lessons from the pandemic have highlighted how essential these units are in helping institutions adapt to different challenges.
The TransACTION! project, launched in 2022, gathered four higher education institutions from Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany and Spain to find effective strategies for supporting media-based teaching and learning. As the project wraps up, it presents ten practical recommendations for decision-makers and policy influencers at institutional, national, and European levels. These recommendations aim to help HEIs effectively navigate digital transformation while enhancing their competitiveness.
Support providers are key to this process, equipping faculty with the tools and knowledge needed to incorporate media and digital resources into their teaching. Their work is crucial not just for addressing current challenges but also for ensuring that institutions are well-prepared for future educational demands and remain competitive in the evolving global higher education landscape.
1. Involve support units in decision-making processes
Senior staff from support units within HEIs should actively participate in strategic decision-making processes. Their expertise can inform and align institutional goals with innovative digital learning approaches.
2. Encourage collaborative research on digital media in learning
Support providers should be encouraged to conduct collaborative research on the pedagogical use of digital media in learning. Findings from these studies should be used to shape institutional policies, ensuring that HEIs leverage media to enhance learning outcomes effectively.
3. Allocate adequate resources for media production support
To empower academic staff in creating high-quality educational media resources, HEIs should allocate sufficient resources for equipment, facilities, and training.
4. Standardise training and certification for media producers
A unified, cohesive approach to the certification and training of educational media producers is necessary. Establishing national and European-level standards including micro-credentials would enhance professional recognition and consistency in media production skills across institutions.
5. Ensure stability in support planning
For sustained digital transformation, support planning must align with the mid- and long-term innovation goals of the HEI. Stable planning allows support providers to develop robust media resources and integrate emerging technologies into teaching practices.
6. Maintain consistent resource provision
Reliable resource allocation is critical to meet the evolving staff and technology needs of support providers. HEIs should prioritise resources that align with their digital transformation goals and adapt to future technological advancements.
7. Foster a collaborative approach in course creation
HEIs should promote a co-creative approach to course development, valuing contributions from various experts. By facilitating an inclusive environment, HEIs can create courses that reflect interdisciplinary expertise and innovative perspectives.
8. Embrace ethical AI in media production
Support providers should explore the ethical and efficient use of AI tools to streamline media production. Providing platforms for sharing AI-related successes and insights within the European educational community can lead to improved educational media practices across institutions.
9. Support the development of student literacy in digital media
Support providers should take an active role in helping students become proficient in using various digital media tools and resources effectively. This support should be evident in the resources offered and the learning opportunities provided to students.
10. Recognise media skills in academic career advancement
HEIs should consider implementing a a micro-credentialing or recognition system for academic staff who follow training to develop media production skills. Such recognition would motivate faculty members to enhance their media skills, enriching the institution’s digital learning capabilities.
These recommendations were first introduced in the “Supporting digital teaching and learning with media: Policy Recommendations Report for European Higher Education” published in November 2024.
