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The Centre for Online and Distance Education (CODE) is an international leader in the promotion and development of excellence in online and distance education, through research, capacity building and training.
The Centre for Online and Distance Education (CODE) is an advocate for learning and teaching innovation and staff development, with research central to their work.
°ä°¿¶Ù·¡â€™s community of Fellows work in collaboration to innovate, to analyse the latest findings and to develop our understanding of effective online, distance, blended and hybrid learning, within the following broad research themes:
- Learning, teaching and assessment
- Student experience
- (Change) management, organisation, systems, theories
CODE supports innovation, development and evaluation of practice within àËÅöÊÓƵ and across the Federated Members.
CODE offers a number of student fellowships each year. Student Fellows have the opportunity to gain knowledge and transferable skills by collaborating with CODE Fellows on current research projects.
Providing both expertise and funding, CODE facilitates a wide range of stakeholder identified projects that support developments in learning and teaching, student experience and enhanced systems. °ä°¿¶Ù·¡â€™s own awards scheme, in particular the Teaching and Research Awards, offers small grants to staff throughout the àËÅöÊÓƵ Federation and to CODE Fellows. Our annual Roger Mills Prize for innovation in learning and teaching provides the opportunity for colleagues across the Federation to receive recognition for their innovative work.
In addition to funding and leading on research projects, CODE plays a key role in disseminating research and encouraging knowledge exchange through a programme of free, inclusive events.
- Research in Distance Education and e-Learning (RIDE) is an annual two-day hybrid conference organised by CODE, with proposals invited from researchers and practitioners around the world.
- The Centre’s ‘Experiences in Digital Learning’ webinar series runs throughout the year and offers an opportunity to discuss and share learning on the latest innovations in digital learning.
- CODE runs an annual one-day professional development workshop entitled ‘Supporting Student Success’.
CODE also provides a hub of free online resources.
The Centre’s other key focus of work is supporting institutions around the world to develop strategy, build capacity and train their staff. CODE runs a number of bespoke training and capacity courses and workshops each year.
Each year, CODE hosts a number of Visiting Scholars for a period of four to six months, offering a bespoke programme of activities designed to support their individual goals – from research to capacity building, and upskilling to programme development.
Director of CODE
Director of Academic Practice in Distance Education and Director of the Centre for Online and Distance Education (CODE)
Executive members
Director of CODE: Dr Linda Amrane-Cooper
- Appointed by UoL
- Director of Academic Practice in Distance Education
- Budget holder, member of UoLW Senior Leadership Team, member of UoL Senior Management Group
- Oversight of CODE Activity, projects, awards, events
- Represents CODE internally and externally
- Supported by CODE Administrator and Executive
Dr J Simon Rofe, Deputy Director of CODE,
Dr Linda Amrane-Cooper leading on Conference & Events – sharing our showcase events (conferences, workshops, webinars) within the sector and beyond; helping with organisation, selection, programme and reporting,
(Vacant position) leading on Consultancy & Training – looking for and supporting the preparation of bids and design for external opportunities e.g. commissioned research and training activities. Supporting our PGC LTHE,
Prof Stylianos Hatzipanagos leading on Research and Scholarship – seeking, updating and creating knowledge in Distance Education in HE by fostering research and dissemination. Supporting a strategy for research and scholarship outputs in peer-reviewed publications and relevant sector conferences, while measuring the impact of our collective work,
Prof Stephen Brown leading on Networking and Communications – working with different stakeholders across UoL Member Institutions, and more widely to provide relevant, timely, effective and widely recognised support for an international Community of Practice around Online, Distance and Technology Enhanced Learning.
Dr Christina Howell-Richardson leading on The Open University of China project
Dr Matthew Phillpott leading on Educational design and learning technology
Dr Jonathan San Diego leading on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Student Fellows
Dr Sam Smidt leading on Visiting Scholars
Dr Michele Milner leading on Projects
Fellows
There are currently 42 CODE Fellows. Our Fellows span a wide range roles including teachers, course leaders, senior managers, researchers, educational technologists, learning designers and policy advisors.
Student fellows
This is an initiative whereby àËÅöÊÓƵ distance learning students are given the opportunity to gain transferable skills through collaborating with Fellows on current projects funded by the Centre. Typical topics include:
- Educational research
- Development of student support material
- Project or resource evaluation
- Focus group and other data gathering activities
Read more about our Student Fellows
Visiting scholars
Visiting Scholars have the opportunity to engage in projects and activities that are mutually agreed with identified intended outcomes. A bespoke programme of activities is developed to support the intended outcomes for the placement. Placements usually last for between four and six months. The nature of the placement can vary from specific research projects and evaluation, to capacity building, programme/short course development and training.
Read more about Visiting Scholars.