Professor Christothea Herodotou selected as Associate Director of QEI
We are pleased to announce that Professor Christothea Herodotou has been selected as the new Associate Director of Quality Enhancement and Innovation (QEI) in IET for a three-year period.
Prof Christothea Herodotou, Professor of Learning Technologies and Social Justice, assumed the position in September 2023, following successive roles since she joined the OU in 2013. During this time, Prof Herodotou has led projects funded by major funding bodies such as Horizon Europe, NSF, and UKRI, as well as several quality enhancement projects.
The QEI programme conducts large-scale interdisciplinary research and evaluation across the faculties of The Open University (OU), with the aim to improve the quality of teaching, learning and assessment at the university. The QEI programme also has a commitment to ensure the OU’s leading role in delivering high quality, innovative, open and distance education.
Discussing her selection to the role, Prof Herodotou said:
“It was with great pleasure and excitement I undertook the role of AD QEI in 2023. Since then, the focus of QEI activities has been realigned to support student retention and performance through direct collaboration with the PVC-Students and the PVC-Research and Innovation.
My aim is, through the delivery of high-quality interdisciplinary activities across the four faculties, to achieve impact by enabling our students to succeed in their studies. The team’s expertise in conducting research and evaluation activities across the University and their established networks will be valued assets in achieving our objectives.”
The QEI team is actively engaged in two pivotal strands of activity. The first project, sponsored by PVC-RI, aims to identify the benefits of using Artificial Intelligence, including Generative AI and Large Language Models in the production of new curriculum at the University. The second project, sponsored by PVC-S, aims to enable positive student outcomes (across student continuation, completion, performance) by evaluating technological and pedagogical interventions designed to support tutors early in students’ learning journey.
In addition to her responsibilities as AD QEI, Prof Herodotou will continue her engagements and commitments in IET, progressing the design and evaluation of learning technologies that promote education opportunity and social justice.
During her time working in IET, Prof Herodotou has led various funded projects, including nQuire, the OU’s citizen science platform which has engaged over 300,000 contributions from citizens in scientific research missions, with recognition of its impact from Guardian University Awards and DataIQ awards 2020.
Prof Herodotou has also led the evaluation of pan-university projects which have advanced practice at the OU, including the application of predictive indicators to support student performance, resulting in the award-winning Early Alert Indicators Dashboard.
In closing, Prof Herodotou said:
“The QEI team has a unique role to play across the University in terms of enabling innovation and ensuring high quality of teaching and learning. Our direct collaboration with PVCs can help shape future directions and decision making“.