Gina’s Blog

Last week, 150 students graduated with a BA (hons) in Learning, Technology and Research in Chelmsford cathedral. It was no ordinary graduation!

Ultralab launched the pilot Ultraversity project in June 2003. The fully online, work-based, undergraduate research degree is one manifestion of current trends in education towards personalisation of learning, accessibility, choice and flexible assessment mechanisms. I was privileged to work with a group of student researchers for three years, from the first induction activities, associated teething problems and huge learning curves for us all. Together we embraced learning together online in an environment which sought to break down barriers of ‘expert’ and ’student’.

The first time many of us met was last week. It is a truly strange and wonderful experience to meet people face to face after three years of seeing them as a computer font! They had inspired me with their determination, talent and openness. Even so, I was surprised to find tears running down my face during the entire graduation ceremony.

Ultraversity is still going strong into its 6th cohort. But I’m especially proud of the first cohort who hepled shape the degree, and who were brave enough to enrol on a degree which was also a research project.