About Digifest 2024
Realising ambitions and changing education and research for the better. Digifest 2024 explored the future landscape of our sector.
How can we help our students to achieve their aspirations? What might our research community discover to benefit the world we live in? By anticipating the digital trends of tomorrow we can imagine the future today.
During Digifest 2024 we explored:
- Shaping the future landscape of education and research – how advances in digital, data and technology could transform education, research, and industry and how as individuals and communities we can effect positive change
- Collaborating beyond boundaries – the future of education and research where technology breaks down geographical, cultural, and disciplinary boundaries
- Better futures – bold ideas for education and research with social, environmental, sustainable, and ethical dimensions
- The future of spaces and places – developing physical and virtual environments that enable education and research to transcend physical location (for example, XR, hybrid technologies, virtual environments) or reimagine the estate
- Personalised, adaptive futures – harnessing the power of data and technology to empower all learners more effectively and at scale
- Future educators, students and researchers – what the essential skills, capabilities and competencies will be for these roles in the future and how we can prepare ourselves now
- Students as change agents for the future – their role in responding to the complex challenges faced by future generations (for example, student voice, student research, social impact initiatives and innovation)
Where will we go next?
Well that's down to you.
Digifest 2024 is a CPD accredited event
Jisc is a member of the CPD Certification Service - by attending Digifest 2024 you can add this learning time towards your individual continuing professional development goals. After the event, you'll receive a digital certificate with CPD points to add to your personal log or organisational file.
Who attended?
We welcomed:
- Leaders, managers and practitioners in HE and FE looking to develop their digital strategies and approaches
- Middle and senior managers from HE and FE and other educational organisations
- Those who are leading change from within, or working across, a university, college or skills organisation
- Those in a managerial capacity across many demographics including libraries, business support, curriculum areas and academic departments
"So much of Digifest 2024 was about culture and purposeful adoption of technology, not just shiny stuff around the corner."
Kirstie Coolin, digital learning manager, University of Nottingham
Venue
International Convention Centre, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EA.
Sustainability - reducing our global impact
We are working hard to reduce the impact that Digifest has on the environment, locally and globally.
Location
Digifest is held at the ICC in the centre of Birmingham, enabling easy and efficient access using public transport from across the UK.
The ICC is a short walk or tram ride from Birmingham New Street station. Taking the train is actively encouraged; the difference between a mile on the train and a mile in the car is 0.22 kg CO2e vs 0.07 kg CO2e. For those who need to use the car, car-sharing is encouraged. If there are four people using one car, the carbon per person per mile is 0.05 kg.
We will be sending delegates a short form prior to the event to collect information regarding their journeys, which will help us accurately measure the travel footprint.
Digifest is held at the ICC in the centre of Birmingham, enabling easy and efficient access using public transport from across the UK.
The ICC is a short walk or tram ride from Birmingham New Street station. Taking the train is actively encouraged; the difference between a mile on the train and a mile in the car is 0.22 kg CO2e vs 0.07 kg CO2e. For those who need to use the car, car-sharing is encouraged. If there are four people using one car, the carbon per person per mile is 0.05 kg.
We will be sending delegates a short form prior to the event to collect information regarding their journeys, which will help us accurately measure the travel footprint.
Venue
The ICC holds the ISO 14001:2004 accreditation for environmental management systems.
- A district-based scheme (Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Generator) is installed onsite to provide chilled water for air-conditioning, electricity and hot water for heating the ICC and buildings in the immediate vicinity, including Utilita Arena Birmingham. A publicly visible carbon calculator keeps track of the carbon dioxide savings, minimising the ICC’s carbon footprint and providing the ability to sell carbon credit
- Energy saving sensors are fitted and use reduced energy LED lighting where possible throughout the venue. The venue’s switch-off procedure ensures that energy use is kept to a minimum in event spaces and offices and that all equipment and lights are switched of when not in use, which is monitored via security
- All waste is treated, so that glass, cardboard and paper waste is separated and recycled. Waste that cannot be recycled or reused is incinerated to use for energy via a Birmingham City Council-run scheme at the nearby Tyseley Energy Waste Plant
- The ICC is involved in a pilot scheme to turn a flat roof into an eco-friendly environment and to increase insulation and ultimately enhance the landscape of flora and fauna to attract urban species to the environment. The roof provides a haven for the rare black redstart bird whose numbers are thought to be declining following increased development, and whose continuing presence in the city is precarious. The roof has also been designed to encourage ground nesting bees and wasps, invertebrates and other birds
- The ICC is also home to two 'Bee Hotels' to encourage Mason Bees
- The venue team has implemented many initiatives to demonstrate a commitment to environmental sustainability and can support organisers to minimise or totally offset the carbon emissions of their conference
The ICC holds the ISO 14001:2004 accreditation for environmental management systems.
- A district-based scheme (Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Generator) is installed onsite to provide chilled water for air-conditioning, electricity and hot water for heating the ICC and buildings in the immediate vicinity, including Utilita Arena Birmingham. A publicly visible carbon calculator keeps track of the carbon dioxide savings, minimising the ICC’s carbon footprint and providing the ability to sell carbon credit
- Energy saving sensors are fitted and use reduced energy LED lighting where possible throughout the venue. The venue’s switch-off procedure ensures that energy use is kept to a minimum in event spaces and offices and that all equipment and lights are switched of when not in use, which is monitored via security
- All waste is treated, so that glass, cardboard and paper waste is separated and recycled. Waste that cannot be recycled or reused is incinerated to use for energy via a Birmingham City Council-run scheme at the nearby Tyseley Energy Waste Plant
- The ICC is involved in a pilot scheme to turn a flat roof into an eco-friendly environment and to increase insulation and ultimately enhance the landscape of flora and fauna to attract urban species to the environment. The roof provides a haven for the rare black redstart bird whose numbers are thought to be declining following increased development, and whose continuing presence in the city is precarious. The roof has also been designed to encourage ground nesting bees and wasps, invertebrates and other birds
- The ICC is also home to two 'Bee Hotels' to encourage Mason Bees
- The venue team has implemented many initiatives to demonstrate a commitment to environmental sustainability and can support organisers to minimise or totally offset the carbon emissions of their conference
Exhibition
We work with exhibition suppliers who offer multiple display deliveries and re-use stands which further reduce the environmental impact vs traditional “space only” events.
We actively encourage exhibitors to be mindful of their environmental impact.
The approach we take with our exhibitions encourages the use of digital messaging, reducing the opportunity for printed materials, graphics and giveaways.
We work with exhibition suppliers who offer multiple display deliveries and re-use stands which further reduce the environmental impact vs traditional “space only” events.
We actively encourage exhibitors to be mindful of their environmental impact.
The approach we take with our exhibitions encourages the use of digital messaging, reducing the opportunity for printed materials, graphics and giveaways.
Event materials
Our preference is to use digital signage at the event.
The Digifest event app significantly reduces the amount of printing required at the event. Any event printing is now FSC certified and fully recyclable. All laminate or UV finishes have been removed from our marketing materials, ensuring that recycling can occur.
Our lanyards, when used, are made of bamboo and PET materials that are biodegradable.
Our preference is to use digital signage at the event.
The Digifest event app significantly reduces the amount of printing required at the event. Any event printing is now FSC certified and fully recyclable. All laminate or UV finishes have been removed from our marketing materials, ensuring that recycling can occur.
Our lanyards, when used, are made of bamboo and PET materials that are biodegradable.
Catering
To make Digifest more sustainable and reduce its carbon footprint, we will be offering a meat free menu at this year’s event. By moving away from the standard buffet selection, we can save between two and seven tonnes of carbon.
Catering is locally sourced and the ICC utilise an anaerobic digestion system for food waste, which further reduces the waste footprint. Crockery will be reusable, and we encourage delegates to bring their own water bottle.
To make Digifest more sustainable and reduce its carbon footprint, we will be offering a meat free menu at this year’s event. By moving away from the standard buffet selection, we can save between two and seven tonnes of carbon.
Catering is locally sourced and the ICC utilise an anaerobic digestion system for food waste, which further reduces the waste footprint. Crockery will be reusable, and we encourage delegates to bring their own water bottle.
Contact us
Email digifest@jisc.ac.uk for more information.