CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html>     <html class="no-js" lang="en-GB"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("http://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/education-leaders-take-inspiration-and-learn-from-amazon-29-jun-2022","20220630150836","http://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1656601716"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>Education leaders take inspiration and learn from Amazon | Jisc</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/> <script type="text/javascript">var jiscp = {"joid":"-1","name":"","sector":"","region":""};</script> <script src="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836js_/https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?hl=en" async="async" defer="defer"></script> <link rel="preconnect" href="//web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://cdn-eu.dynamicyield.com/"> <link rel="preconnect" href="//web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://st-eu.dynamicyield.com/"> <link rel="preconnect" href="//web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://rcom-eu.dynamicyield.com/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://cdn-eu.dynamicyield.com/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://st-eu.dynamicyield.com/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://rcom-eu.dynamicyield.com/"> <script> var cookiestring = new RegExp("jisc_eprivacy" + '[^;]+').exec(document.cookie); var value = unescape(!!cookiestring ? cookiestring.toString().replace(/^[^=]+/, '').replace('=', '') : ''); if(value === "active-consent") { var script1 = document.createElement('script'); var script2 = document.createElement('script'); script1.src = "//web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://cdn-eu.dynamicyield.com/api/9877327/api_dynamic.js"; script2.src = "//web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://cdn-eu.dynamicyield.com/api/9877327/api_static.js"; document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(script1); document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(script2); } </script><script> (function(h,o,t,j,a,r){ h.hj=h.hj||function(){(h.hj.q=h.hj.q||[]).push(arguments)}; h._hjSettings={hjid:2326029,hjsv:6}; a=o.getElementsByTagName('head')[0]; r=o.createElement('script');r.async=1; r.src=t+h._hjSettings.hjid+j+h._hjSettings.hjsv; a.appendChild(r); })(window,document,'http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://static.hotjar.com/c/hotjar-','.js?sv='); </script> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836im_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/jisc_clean/favicon.ico"/> <meta name="description" content="There’s a disconnection between the increasing digital and technical needs of employers and the skills of today’s college and university leavers. "/> <link rel="canonical" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/education-leaders-take-inspiration-and-learn-from-amazon-29-jun-2022"/> <link rel="shortlink" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/node/60054"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Jisc"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:url" content="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/education-leaders-take-inspiration-and-learn-from-amazon-29-jun-2022"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Education leaders take inspiration and learn from Amazon"/> <meta property="og:description" content="There’s a disconnection between the increasing digital and technical needs of employers and the skills of today’s college and university leavers. "/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@jisc"/> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@"/> <meta name="twitter:url" content="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836im_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/education-leaders-take-inspiration-and-learn-from-amazon-29-jun-2022"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Education leaders take inspiration and learn from Amazon"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="There’s a disconnection between the increasing digital and technical needs of employers and the skills of today’s college and university leavers. "/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836im_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/jisc-staff-visit-to-amazon-feature.jpg"/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Jisc blog feed" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://feeds.feedburner.com/JISCBlog"/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Jisc news feed" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://feeds2.feedburner.com/ac/uabG"/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Jisc events feed" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://feeds2.feedburner.com/ac/toXU"/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Jisc jobs feed" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://feeds.feedburner.com/JiscJobVacanciesWebFeed"/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Jisc podcasts feed" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://feeds.feedburner.com/JiscPodcast"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="144x144" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836im_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/jisc_clean/apple-touch-icon-144x144-precomposed.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="114x114" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836im_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/jisc_clean/apple-touch-icon-114x114-precomposed.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="57x57" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836im_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/jisc_clean/apple-touch-icon-57x57-precomposed.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="72x72" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836im_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/jisc_clean/apple-touch-icon-72x72-precomposed.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836im_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/jisc_clean/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836im_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/jisc_clean/apple-touch-icon.png">  <meta property="fb:pages" content="499379160101212"/> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"/> <meta content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1.0" name="viewport"/> <meta content="on" http-equiv="cleartype"/>  <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no"/> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="UNqcoVblscrmuOfPyGUTeRMyNRcroUK_U9ghx-PFl0Q"/> <link href="//web.archive.org/web/20220630150836cs_/https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Roboto:300,300i,400,400i,500,500i" rel="stylesheet"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836cs_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/css/css_rEI_5cK_B9hB4So2yZUtr5weuEV3heuAllCDE6XsIkI.css"/> <style>div.a8603_field{display:none;visibility:hidden;} div.a5ead_field{display:none;visibility:hidden;} </style> <link rel="stylesheet" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836cs_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/css/css_oBsiHIoIA5lAPqK9E6jDdaNe3tAN5Nagql7giHq9cno.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836cs_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/css/css_PsIMLeNhMOWYLk90AWTJ5AtR6KQeGbR_YScSoC_7uSM.css" media="print"/> <script> dataLayer = []; </script> <script src="/web/20220630150836js_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/jisc_clean/js/vendor/modernizr.js"></script> <script src="/web/20220630150836js_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/jisc_clean/js/vendor/a11y-toggle.min.js"></script>  </head> <body class="jisc not-front no-sidebars node-type-news-story"> <div id="cookie-bar-main" class="cookie-bar" style="display: none;"> <div class="inner"> <p class="cookie-bar__notification">We use cookies to give you the best experience and to help improve our website</p> <p> <a class="cookie-bar__link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/website/cookies">Find out more about how we use cookies</a> </p> <p class="cookie-bar__options-title">Choose whether to use cookies:</p> <p class="cookie-bar__options"> <a href="#" class="cookie-bar__reject">No thanks</a> <a href="#" class="cookie-bar__confirm">That's fine</a> </p> </div> </div> <noscript aria-hidden="true"><iframe src="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836if_/https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-PWX6FN" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <header class="masthead jsSiteMasthead" role="banner" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/html"> <div class="inner"> <a id="skiplinks" class="visuallyhidden focusable in-page" href="#main"> <span>Skip to main content</span> </a> </div> <div class="c-main-site-header jsMainSiteHeader"> <div class="c-main-site-header__primary-signpost "> <div class="c-main-site-header__container"> <div class="c-main-site-header__primary-signpost-inner"> <p class="c-main-site-header__brand"> <a class="c-main-site-header__brand-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/" title="Go to the Jisc homepage"> <img class="c-main-site-header__brand-img" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836im_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/jisc_clean/img/jisc-logo.svg" alt="Jisc"/> </a> </p> <nav class="c-main-site-header__you-are-in" aria-label="Breadcrumb"> <p class="c-main-site-header__you-are-in-title">You are in:</p> <ul class="c-main-site-header__you-are-in-list"> <li><a href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news">News</a></li><li><span>Education leaders take inspiration and learn from Amazon</span></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="c-main-site-header__utilities"> <p class="c-main-site-header__utilities-title">Utilities:</p> <ul class="c-main-site-header__utilities-list c-main-site-header__utilities-list--menu-triggers"> <li class="c-main-site-header__utilities-item"> <button class="c-main-site-header__trigger c-main-site-header__trigger--enabled jsUtilityTrigger" data-a11y-toggle="a11ytoggle-siteSearchTarget" data-trigger-role="search" aria-label="Search this website"> <div class="c-main-site-header__trigger-search-icon jsFnbMenuIconTrigger" data-icon-role="search"> <span class="c-main-site-header__trigger-search-icon-circle"></span> <span class="c-main-site-header__trigger-search-icon-handle"></span> </div> <span class="c-main-site-header__trigger-copy">Search this website</span> </button> </li> <li class="c-main-site-header__utilities-item"> <button class="c-main-site-header__trigger c-main-site-header__trigger--disabled" aria-disabled="true" aria-label="Disabled site navigation" disabled="disabled"> <div class="c-main-site-header__trigger-menu-icon" data-icon-role="navigation"> <span class="c-main-site-header__trigger-menu-icon-line"></span> <span class="c-main-site-header__trigger-menu-icon-line"></span> <span class="c-main-site-header__trigger-menu-icon-line"></span> </div> <span class="c-main-site-header__trigger-copy">Disabled site navigation</span> </button> </li> </ul> <ul class="c-main-site-header__utilities-list c-main-site-header__utilities-list--nav-and-site-search"> <li class="c-main-site-header__utilities-item"> <div class="search search--not-front" id="search"> <span class="c-main-site-header__site-search-label-copy">Search the Jisc website</span> <form action="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/search" method="post" id="search-api-page-search-form-search-" accept-charset="UTF-8"> <label class="visuallyhidden" for="search_term"><span class="form-fields__label-text">Search </span></label> <input class="ui-autocomplete-input" placeholder="Search Jisc" id="search_term" autocomplete="off" type="text" name="keys_1" value="" size="30" maxlength="128"/> <input type="hidden" name="id" value="1"/> <a href="#" class="close ico ico-cross">Clear search results</a><input class="ico ico-search-glass" type="submit" id="edit-submit-1" name="op" value="Search"/><input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-gHenip4jPBStp7GSiHg86eaMDugbt-RbmpoFtTRlRnE"/> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="search_api_page_search_form_search_"/> </form> <div id="search-results" class="search-results-dropdown"> <p class="search-results__intro"></p> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-main-site-header__menu jsMenuTarget" id="a11ytoggle-siteSearchTarget" data-is-small-viewport=""> <div class="c-main-site-header__site-search c-main-site-header__site-search--in-menu" role="search"> <div class="search search--not-front" id="search"> <span class="c-main-site-header__site-search-label-copy">Search the Jisc website</span> <form action="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/search" method="post" id="search-api-page-search-form-search-" accept-charset="UTF-8"> <label class="visuallyhidden" for="search_term"><span class="form-fields__label-text">Search </span></label> <input class="ui-autocomplete-input" placeholder="Search Jisc" id="search_term" autocomplete="off" type="text" name="keys_1" value="" size="30" maxlength="128"/> <input type="hidden" name="id" value="1"/> <a href="#" class="close ico ico-cross">Clear search results</a><input class="ico ico-search-glass" type="submit" id="edit-submit-1" name="op" value="Search"/><input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-gHenip4jPBStp7GSiHg86eaMDugbt-RbmpoFtTRlRnE"/> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="search_api_page_search_form_search_"/> </form> <div id="search-results" class="search-results-dropdown"> <p class="search-results__intro"></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-main-site-header__menu" aria-hidden="true"> <nav> <div class="c-main-site-header__main-nav jsMainNavHook"> <p class="c-main-site-header__main-nav-title">Navigation:</p> <div class="c-main-site-header__main-nav-secondary jsMainNavSecondaryHook"> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </header> <main id="main" class="jsMainContent" role="main"> <div class="inner l-pull-left featured top-bar"> <div class="l-centre-offset row"> </div> </div> <section class="t-inform"> <div class="inner"><div id="target-space"></div></div>  <div class="hero inner l-pull-left featured top-bar inform-article"> <div class="inform-marker l-centre-offset"> <span class="marker marker--page">Feature</span> </div> <div id="hero"> <section class="hero hero--no-overlap hero--tight l-offset-bleed"> <figure class="media field field-type-image"> <div class="media__inner"> <img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836im_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/1144px-wide/public/jisc-staff-visit-to-amazon-feature.jpg?itok=0eXRn7pn" alt="Members of Jisc staff gather for a group photo at Amazon’s London office."/> <div class="media__attribution"> <div class="media__attribution__title"> <span class="ico ico-i">Creative Commons attribution information</span> </div> <div about="https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/jisc-staff-visit-to-amazon-feature.jpg" class="media__attribution__info"> <div xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" xmlns:dct="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" class="last-child"> <div property="cc:title" class="cc__title">Members of Jisc staff gather for a group photo at Amazon’s London office.</div><div class="cc__author">©<span property="cc:attributionName">Jisc</span> via <span>Jisc</span></div><div class="cc_license last-child">All rights reserved</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </figure>  <div class="hero__copy l-centre-offset inform-blue"> <h1 class="hero__title"> <span class="hero__title__break">Education leaders take inspiration and learn from Amazon</span> </h1> </div> </section> </div> <div class="l-centre-offset"> <article class="article-full inform-blue"> <header class="article-full__header">  <div itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemscope="" class="duo profile profile--large profile--large-alt inform-author"> <div class="duo__side inform-author-images"> </div> <div class="duo__body profile__info"> <p class="post-meta"> <br/> </p> <p class="post-meta"> <span class="element time"><time class="post-meta__item post-date"><time property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2022-06-29T15:00:00+01:00" datetime="2022-06-29T15:00:00+01:00">29 June 2022</time></time></span> </p> </div> </div> </header> <div class="row"> <div class="col span-9 center"> <div class="article-full__body"> <div class="inform-intro"> <p>There’s a disconnection between the increasing digital and technical needs of employers and the skills of today’s college and university leavers. </p> </div> <p>Better links with cutting-edge industry could help guide the education sector through the kind of technological transformation and narrow this gap: to innovate and upskill teaching staff, to harness emerging technologies and advance the march towards carbon net zero. </p><p>To this end, Jisc is arranging visits for education leaders to cutting-edge businesses. Recently, a group of higher and further education leaders went to Amazon’s London base; this followed a visit to <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/fe-leaders-inspired-by-cutting-edge-industry-practice">Siemens’ Connected Curriculum</a> centre in Manchester. </p><p>Of course, there’s much the education sector can learn from Amazon’s approach as a wholly digital business and, as you’d expect, it is evangelical about the potential of cloud computing as a cost-effective alternative to traditional IT infrastructure in colleges and universities. </p><p>Other topics for learning also emerged from the visit, especially Amazon’s leadership principles and the need to equip staff and students with the right technical skills to meet the demands of UK plc. </p><p>Among the 11 delegates on the visit were Paul Cox, chief executive at Eastleigh College; Nancy Buckley, director of career pathways at Activate Learning; Jackie Grubb, CEO and principal at City College, Plymouth; Mark Hunter, vice-principal, Royal Central School of Art and Drama; and Dr Awel Vaughn-Evans, associate pro-vice-chancellor, Bangor University. </p><h2>Leadership principles </h2><p>Agreeing that the visit was a great learning and networking opportunity, Paul, Nancy and Jackie are particularly inspired by Amazon’s <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rcrJZXJLuY&ab_channel=AWSEvents">culture of innovation</a>, which could also be applicable in a college or university setting. </p><p>Nancy says:</p><blockquote><p>“I found the staff culture piece fascinating and enjoyed the conversation around how Amazon sets goals and brings ideas into reality through pitching and writing ‘press releases.</p><p>"So, from the outset, they aim high, at an ideal, and work backwards, rather than beginning with a problem. It’s a more positive way of working.” </p></blockquote><p>And Jackie adds:</p><blockquote><p>“Amazon demonstrates clear values and purpose within a culture that enables risk taking without fear of blame or failure. I also support the idea that innovation should come from more senior leaders.” </p></blockquote><p> <figure class="media media-element file-default"> <div class="media__inner"> <img data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836im_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/amazon-leadership-principles.jpg" alt="" title=""/> <div class="media__attribution"> <div class="media__attribution__title"> <span class="ico ico-i">Creative Commons attribution information</span> </div> <div about="" class="media__attribution__info"> <div xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" xmlns:dct="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" class="last-child"> <div property="cc:title" class="cc__title">A DNA helix structure listing Amazon's leadership principles.</div><div class="cc__author">©<span property="cc:attributionName">Amazon</span> via <span>Amazon</span></div><div class="cc_license last-child">All rights reserved</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </figure> </p><section class="is-collapsible is-collapsible--blue user-created "><h3 class="cx_collapsibles__trigger">Text description for Amazon leadership principles graphic</h3><div class="cx_collapsibles__target"><p>A DNA helix structure listing Amazon's leadership principles, which include:</p><ul><li>Customer obsession</li><li>Invent and simplify</li><li>Learn and be curious</li><li>Insist on the highest standards</li><li>Deliver results</li><li>Strive to be the Earth's best employer</li><li>Have backbone; disagree and commit</li><li>Dive deep</li><li>Earn trust</li><li>Frugality</li><li>Bias for Action</li><li>Think big</li><li>Hire and develop the best</li><li>Are right, a lot</li><li>Ownership</li><li>Success and scale bring broad responsibility</li></ul></div></section><p>Amazon is organised for innovation, as its <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://www.aboutamazon.com/about-us/leadership-principles">leadership principles</a>, above, illustrate. Its leaders create a culture that is ‘obsessed’ with customers in the same way that principals and VCs are focused on their students. </p><p>Their leaders are people of action: they are curious and brave. They seek talented staff who are expected to experiment. They organise small, empowered, multi-disciplinary teams that own what they create. They are frugal and find ways to simplify and speed up processes because time is money. </p><p>In Amazon’s digital environment, speed and success are dependent upon robust technical architecture. As the owner of the UK’s national research and education network, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/janet">Janet</a>, Jisc concurs. Likewise, Jisc aligns with the Amazon principle that digital transformation is not about technology – it's a way of thinking and operating that requires leadership. </p><h2>Barriers to innovation </h2><p>The visit also included presentations from Amazon on topics including building cloud skills for the digital economy and building digital skills - a strategic city approach (based on a case study of Dundee. </p><p>Responding after the visit, the HE and <span class="lexicon-term has-tooltip" title="further education"><abbr title="further education">FE</abbr></span> leaders spoke about introducing cutting-edge, industry-standard technology into the curriculum. For <span class="lexicon-term has-tooltip" title="further education"><abbr title="further education">FE</abbr></span> in particular, balancing capital investment and operating costs is a constant battle. </p><p>Paul Cox feels that uncertainty around funding and ever-changing qualifications are holding back the kind of investment and strategic planning necessary to make holistic changes. He acknowledges though, that technology and innovation could help reduce the licensing and staffing costs of managing data, which is a sector-wide issue for colleges. </p><p>While recognising the value of learning from industry, Nancy Buckley is frustrated that the current curriculum doesn't require it. Teaching these ‘new’ skills would rely on students wanting to go the extra mile in their own time. </p><p>Mark Hunter adds:</p><blockquote><p>“Finding teachers and professional services staff with the right skills is a constant challenge, and there’s a lack of project planning expertise to implement new practice and systems” </p></blockquote><p>Arwel Vaughn-Evans agrees:</p><blockquote><p>“We need to ensure that staff have the time within their workloads to engage with emerging technologies, and we need to work on upskilling staff and students so that these technologies are used effectively and efficiently in teaching and learning. </p><p>“Tools are available to facilitate this, but in practical terms, we need more staff to support the digital agenda, which is challenging in today’s climate.” </p></blockquote><p>Jackie Grubb feels that red tape holds back education from operating and innovating in an agile manner and offers a solution. She said:</p><blockquote><p>“There is often too much talking about what is wrong and what should be done, and not enough focus on making transformational change. The only way forward is to gather the right people with the right skills together to focus on outcomes and impact, with voices from both education and industry represented.” </p></blockquote><h2>Partnerships with industry </h2><p>Doing nothing though, is not an option, as Cox points out:</p><blockquote><p>“If we are unable to keep pace with industry 4.0, what we teach will be out of date and students will not have the required skills to become valuable employees. </p><p>“For our teaching and training to remain relevant, we need employers to commit for the long term to co-design curriculum. In addition, we all need to recognise that, in certain sectors, schools and colleges cannot match salaries of industry - and industry experts may well be needed to support delivery in certain specialisms.” </p></blockquote><p>Arwel Vaughn-Evans underlines employers’ dissatisfaction with graduates’ skills, quoting a <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/press-releases/articles/less-than-half-of-executives-believe-they-have-digital-skills.html">Deloitte report</a> from 2018, which shows that, pre-pandemic, only around 12% of business leaders believe that graduates had the digital skills need to thrive at work. She adds:</p><blockquote><p>“The biggest risk is the employability of our students: we need to make sure they acquire the right skills so they can enter the workforce with ease.” </p></blockquote><p>Mark Hunter feels the <span class="lexicon-term has-tooltip" title="higher education"><abbr title="higher education">HE</abbr></span> sector is already under scrutiny from students and their parents concerned about the value of degrees. Universities that fail to prepare graduates for employment will be less competitive. </p><p>And Jackie Grubb says:</p><blockquote><p>“Recruiting the right staff with the right skills is key here, so that skills providers can respond to employer needs.” </p></blockquote><p>Perfectly summing up the purpose of the visit, Jackie concludes:</p><blockquote><p>“I’d like to learn more from visits like these to industry. How can we embed AI in the curriculum? What can we co-create and co-design with industry partners? Which industry experts can staff shadow? </p><p>“In essence, how can we work together to create a sustainable, fit-for-purpose workforce for the future?” </p></blockquote><p><strong>Still to come:</strong> a blog following the visit to Amazon will focus on the topic of artificial intelligence.</p> </div> <footer class="article-full__footer article-full__footer--inform-story"> <div class="article-full__tags l-gutter--top"> <dt>Explore more on this topic</dt><dd><a href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/education-40" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Education 4.0</a></dd><dd><a href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/higher-education" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Higher education</a></dd><dd><a href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/further-education-and-skills" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Further education and skills</a></dd> </div>  <aside class="mini-tabs mini-tabs--news"><div class="filter is-closed"><div class=" is-tabbed"><section class="cx_tabs__section"> <div class="cx_tabs__heading cx_collapsibles__trigger section__title">Most read</div> <div class="cx_tabs__content">  <div class="view-header"> </div> <div class="view-filters"> </div> <div class="attachment attachment-before"> </div>  <div class="linklist linklist--small"> <ul> <li class="linklist__item"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/ground-breaking-open-research-platform-octopus-to-launch-24-jun-2022">Ground-breaking open research platform, Octopus, to launch </a></span></li> <li class="linklist__item"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/new-report-helps-steer-education-providers-to-a-cleaner-greener-future-13-jun-2022">New report helps steer education providers to a cleaner, greener future </a></span></li> <li class="linklist__item"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/podcasts/beyond-the-technology-rethinking-assessment-and-feedback-unlocking-the-power-of-comparison-1-jun-2022">Beyond the Technology: Rethinking assessment and feedback - unlocking the power of comparison based feedback</a></span></li> <li class="linklist__item"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/springer-nature-asked-to-revise-application-for-its-titles-to-become-jisc-approved-transformative-journals-26-may-2022">Springer Nature asked to revise application for its titles to become Jisc-approved transformative journals</a></span></li> <li class="linklist__item"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/tackling-digital-transformation-together-25-may-2022">Tackling digital transformation together</a></span></li> </ul> </div> <div class="attachment attachment-after"> </div> <div class="view-footer"> </div> <div class="feed-icon"> </div> </div></section> <section class="cx_tabs__section"> <div class="cx_tabs__heading cx_collapsibles__trigger section__title">Related</div> <div class="cx_tabs__content">  <div class="view-header"> </div> <div class="attachment attachment-before"> </div> <div class="linklist linklist--small"> <ul> <li class="linklist__item"> <div> <span><a href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/mp-hears-the-value-of-on-the-job-learning-from-jisc-apprentices-07-feb-2020">MP hears the value of on-the-job learning from Jisc apprentices</a></span> </div></li> <li class="linklist__item"> <div> <span><a href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/influential-fe-leader-appointed-to-jisc-board-06-jan-2020">Influential FE leader appointed to Jisc board</a></span> </div></li> <li class="linklist__item"> <div> <span><a href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/culture-change-is-the-biggest-challenge-for-colleges-starting-their-digital-journey-27-jan-2021">‘Culture change is the biggest challenge for colleges starting their digital journey’ </a></span> </div></li> <li class="linklist__item"> <div> <span><a href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/university-college-collaboration-produces-covid-19-data-modelling-tool-03-dec-2020">University-college collaboration produces COVID-19 data modelling tool to keep college staff and learners safe</a></span> </div></li> <li class="linklist__item"> <div> <span><a href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/pirate-themed-video-game-gives-prospective-students-a-virtual-campus-tour-08-jun-2020">Pirate-themed video game gives prospective students a virtual campus tour</a></span> </div></li> </ul> </div> <div class="attachment attachment-after"> </div> <div class="view-footer"> </div> <div class="feed-icon"> </div> </div></section> </div></div></aside>  </footer> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </section> </section> </main> <footer role="contentinfo"> <div class="inner l-pull-left light l-gutter--top"> <div class="l-centre-offset row"> </div>  <div class="l-centre-offset row"> </div>  </div> <div class="inner l-pull-left medium"> <div class="l-centre-offset"> <div class="region region--4-up"> </div> </div>  </div>  <div class="c-main-site-footer">  <div class="c-main-site-footer__breadcrumb"> <div class="inner inner--main-site-footer"> <div class="c-main-site-footer-grid"> <div class="c-main-site-footer-grid__item u-6/12@medium u-9/12@large"> <nav class="c-main-site-footer__you-are-here" aria-label="Breadcrumb"> <p class="c-main-site-footer__you-are-here-title">You are in:</p> <div class="c-main-site-footer__you-are-here-item-home"> <a class="c-main-site-footer__you-are-here-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/" aria-label="Jisc homepage"><i class="fas fa-home" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </div> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news">News</a></li><li><span>Education leaders take inspiration and learn from Amazon</span></li> </ul> </nav> </div> <div class="c-main-site-footer-grid__item u-6/12@medium u-3/12@large">   </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="c-main-site-footer__linklist"> <div class="inner inner--main-site-footer"> <div class="c-main-site-footer-grid"> <div class="c-main-site-footer-grid__item u-6/12@medium u-3/12@large"> <h2 class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-title">Areas</h2> <ul class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-group"><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/connectivity">Connectivity</a></li><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/cyber-security">Cyber security</a></li><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/cloud">Cloud</a></li><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/data-and-analytics">Data analytics</a></li></ul><ul><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/libraries-and-research">Libraries, learning resources and research</a></li><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/student-experience">Student experience</a></li><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/trust-and-identity">Trust and identity</a></li><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/advice">Advice and guidance</a></li></ul> </div> <div class="c-main-site-footer-grid__item u-6/12@medium u-3/12@large"> <h2 class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-title">Explore</h2> <ul class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-group"><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/guides">Guides</a></li><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://beta.jisc.ac.uk/training">Training</a></li><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/consultancy">Consultancy</a></li><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://beta.jisc.ac.uk/events">Events</a></li><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/rd">R&D</a></li></ul> </div> <div class="c-main-site-footer-grid__item u-6/12@medium u-3/12@large"> <h2 class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-title">Useful</h2> <ul class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-group"><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/about">About</a></li><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/membership">Membership</a></li><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/get-involved">Get involved</a></li><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news">News</a></li><li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/jobs">Jobs</a></li></ul> </div> <div class="c-main-site-footer-grid__item u-6/12@medium u-3/12@large"> <h2 class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-title">Get in touch</h2> <ul class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-group"> <li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"> <a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/contact"> Contact us </a> </li> <li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"> <a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/headlines"> Sign up to our newsletter </a> </li> <li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"> <a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link-social" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://twitter.com/jisc"> <i class="fab fa-twitter" aria-hidden="true"></i> <span class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link-social-copy">Twitter</span> </a> </li> <li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"> <a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link-social" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://www.facebook.com/jiscsocial"> <i class="fab fa-facebook" aria-hidden="true"></i> <span class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link-social-copy">Facebook</span> </a> </li> <li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"> <a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link-social" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://www.linkedin.com/company/jisc"> <i class="fab fa-linkedin" aria-hidden="true"></i> <span class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link-social-copy">LinkedIn</span> </a> </li> <li class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item"> <a class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link-social" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/http://www.youtube.com/user/JISCmedia"> <i class="fab fa-youtube" aria-hidden="true"></i> <span class="c-main-site-footer__linklist-item-link-social-copy">YouTube</span> </a> </li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="c-main-site-footer__utilities"> <div class="inner inner--main-site-footer"> <div class="c-main-site-footer-grid"> <div class="c-main-site-footer-grid__item u-6/12@medium u-9/12@large"> <ul class="c-main-site-footer__utilities-list"><li class="c-main-site-footer__utilities-list-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer_utilities-list-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/website/cookies">Cookies</a></li> <li class="c-main-site-footer__utilities-list-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer_utilities-list-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/website/privacy-notice">Privacy</a></li> <li class="c-main-site-footer__utilities-list-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer_utilities-list-item-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/about/corporate/slavery-and-human-trafficking-statement">Modern slavery</a></li> <li class="c-main-site-footer__utilities-list-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__utilities-additional-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/about/corporate/carbon-reduction-plan">Carbon reduction plan</a></li> <li class="c-main-site-footer__utilities-list-item"><a class="c-main-site-footer__utilities-additional-link" href="/web/20220630150836/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/website/accessibility-statement">Accessibility</a></li></ul> </div> <div class="c-main-site-footer-grid__item u-6/12@medium u-3/12@large"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];var j=d.createElement(s);var dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.src='http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836/https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl+'';j.async=true;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-PWX6FN');</script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20220630150836js_/https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.8.3/jquery.min.js"></script> <script>window.jQuery || document.write("<script src='/sites/all/modules/contrib/jquery_update/replace/jquery/1.8/jquery.min.js'>\x3C/script>")</script> <script src="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836js_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/js/js_38VWQ3jjQx0wRFj7gkntZr077GgJoGn5nv3v05IeLLo.js"></script> <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20220630150836js_/https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.10.2/jquery-ui.min.js"></script> <script>window.jQuery.ui || document.write("<script src='/sites/all/modules/contrib/jquery_update/replace/ui/ui/minified/jquery-ui.min.js'>\x3C/script>")</script> <script src="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836js_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/js/js_HVnCCIgHRirQpRoFWonc_8bBPFRPIQcCowhXgVKGqmM.js"></script> <script src="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836js_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/js/js_yxpcsmG10aGVUSD90BA4qltlgKI1rbhnUmWB7jdXazY.js"></script> <script>(function ($) { Drupal.behaviors.aecc570fcf3c53699f1 = { attach: function (context, settings) { $("input.a8603_field").each(function() { f=$(this)[0]; if (f.value.indexOf("99fc53699f1")==0){f.value="38"+f.value.substring(3)+"8b9279c672c6abe9_form";} }); } }; })(jQuery);</script> <script>(function ($) { Drupal.behaviors.aecc570fcf376912659 = { attach: function (context, settings) { $("input.a5ead_field").each(function() { f=$(this)[0]; tok2 = f.style.fontFamily; if(tok2.charAt(0) == "'" || tok2.charAt(0) == '"') tok2=tok2.substring(1, tok2.length-1); tok2=tok2.substring(1, tok2.length); if (f.value.indexOf("265976")==0){f.value="d8"+f.value.substring(4)+tok2;} }); } }; }(jQuery));</script> <script src="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836js_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/js/js_wbggZomfV-DSGP6P1MIUfZMdnhr6ALYxidVUJsoA5ZQ.js"></script> <script src="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836js_/https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js"></script> <script src="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836js_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/js/js_-bYDucO2dMNyh_p388rTq6juq7Bml1CFSjiR67jUMB4.js"></script> <script src="http://web.archive.org/web/20220630150836js_/https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/js/js_NUoZMxIk0jJhXf5BZIGmdzbK72O3KtrmbiBW6Q62Zvk.js"></script> <script>jQuery.extend(Drupal.settings, {"basePath":"\/","pathPrefix":"","ajaxPageState":{"theme":"jisc_clean","theme_token":"HKTv43nqH16uxEUrBr2NpN6SkUBonVGss3dGrsMQl40","jquery_version":"1.8","js":{"0":1,"\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220630150836\/https:\/\/ajax.googleapis.com\/ajax\/libs\/jquery\/1.8.3\/jquery.min.js":1,"1":1,"misc\/jquery-extend-3.4.0.js":1,"misc\/jquery-html-prefilter-3.5.0-backport.js":1,"misc\/jquery.once.js":1,"misc\/drupal.js":1,"\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220630150836\/https:\/\/ajax.googleapis.com\/ajax\/libs\/jqueryui\/1.10.2\/jquery-ui.min.js":1,"2":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/external\/jquery.cookie.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/jquery_update\/replace\/jquery.form\/4\/jquery.form.min.js":1,"misc\/jquery.ba-bbq.js":1,"misc\/ajax.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/jquery_update\/js\/jquery_update.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/custom\/jisc_search_section\/js\/jiscSectionSearch.js":1,"3":1,"4":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/captcha\/captcha.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/views\/js\/base.js":1,"misc\/progress.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/custom\/jisc_ia_nav\/js\/JiscIaNav.js":1,"http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220630150836\/https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/views\/js\/ajax_view.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/mothership\/mothership\/js\/contextual.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/jisc_clean\/js\/jisc-lib.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/jisc_clean\/js\/extras.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/jisc_clean\/js\/integration\/timeline.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/jisc_clean\/js\/jisc-p13n.js":1},"css":{"modules\/system\/system.base.css":1,"modules\/system\/system.messages.css":1,"0":1,"1":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/jisc_clean\/css\/content.css":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/jisc_clean\/css\/print.css":1}},"jiscFlashPath":"\/sites\/all\/themes\/jisc_clean\/flash\/","searchAutocompletePath":"\/server\/search-results","urlIsAjaxTrusted":{"\/search":true,"\/views\/ajax":true,"\/search\/60054":true},"facetapi":{"view_args":{"popular_content:block_3":[],"search:block_4":["60054","news_story","60054","news_story","60054","news_story"],"popular_content:block_3-1":[],"search:block_4-1":["60054","news_story"]},"exposed_input":{"popular_content:block_3":[],"search:block_4":{"sort_by":"search_api_relevance","sort_order":"DESC"},"popular_content:block_3-1":[],"search:block_4-1":{"sort_by":"","sort_order":"DESC"}},"view_path":{"popular_content:block_3":null,"search:block_4":"search","popular_content:block_3-1":null,"search:block_4-1":"search"},"view_dom_id":{"popular_content:block_3":"8bd59292cc49d5950d32f17ec4b2c906","search:block_4":"3891cb87fa20aa6c74c5e3697e3fbeb7","popular_content:block_3-1":"a3bfdab9995c22d302ce064eaf7373f3","search:block_4-1":"707e5360778e2b4e7ae6fee0a6fb567f"}},"views":{"ajax_path":"\/views\/ajax","ajaxViews":{"views_dom_id:3891cb87fa20aa6c74c5e3697e3fbeb7":{"view_name":"search","view_display_id":"block_4","view_args":"60054\/news_story","view_path":"node\/60054","view_base_path":"search","view_dom_id":"3891cb87fa20aa6c74c5e3697e3fbeb7","pager_element":0},"views_dom_id:707e5360778e2b4e7ae6fee0a6fb567f":{"view_name":"search","view_display_id":"block_4","view_args":"60054\/news_story","view_path":"node\/60054","view_base_path":"search","view_dom_id":"707e5360778e2b4e7ae6fee0a6fb567f","pager_element":0}}},"quicktabs":{"qt_rhs_news":{"name":"rhs_news","active_tab":"0","history":0}}});</script> </body> </html>