Dr. Faisal Mushtaq
University of Leeds - Associate Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience
The Bradford economy is estimated to be underperforming by as much as £4 billion per year and currently as many as a third of local businesses cite a lack of digital expertise as a major block to their growth. One reason for this is that the city is one from education and skills deprivation – a factor which only serves to amplify the digital skills gap. It is vital that we act now to prevent Bradford’s young people, and with them the region’s economic fortunes, falling further behind the rest of the country.
Digital Makers combines a comprehensive programme of research and training that will equip our schools with the knowledge and insights they need to transform the digital education landscape.
Supported by the Digital Futures Commission, The Department for Education, OFSTED, The Alan Turing Institute, the UK Catapults Network and a number of high profile industrial partners, we will plug into the unique Connected Yorkshire data set which links routine anonymised data on 1.4 million people across the county’s NHS and social care providers to create a new digital data stream to run in parallel to the Born in Bradford research study.
In what will be one of the world’s largest ever co-produced science programmes, we will also engage with every secondary school pupil in the district to ensure they have multiple opportunities to shape and participate in the research.
Digital Makers will ensure Bradford is digitally prepared by empowering school leavers need to access the digital world and by identifying and fast-tracking the digital leaders of tomorrow.
Fundamental Research
Core ScienceCollect data and evidence
Fundamental Research
Discovery and DesignImplement in schools
Translate
Trials and AssessmentCo-design and test in ~ 10 schools
Implement
Large Randomised Controlled TrialRefine and test across ~ 100 schools
Scale-up
Regional RolloutTest in contexts and delivery conditions ~ 500 schools
National
Evidence-based PolicyDevelop national policy with Whitehall partners
Our team members
Dr. Chris Brown
Centre for Immersive Technologies - Senior Project Manager
Jen Shaw
Centre for Applied Education Research - Research and Implementation Fellow (Digital Makers)
Prof. Mark Mon-Williams
University of Leeds - Chair in Cognitive Psychology
Prof. Michalis Kontopodis
University of Leeds - Chair in Global Childhood and Youth Studies
Dr. Mai Elshehaly
City, University of London - Lecturer in Computer Science
Rafe Clayton
University of Leeds - Lecturer at the School of Media and Communication