1. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance SUPA Graduate School Jim Sheach Manager, Learning and Teaching Spaces Technology The University of Edinburgh www.ed.ac.uk/is

2. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Graduate School - Remit Technical Courses across themes Astronomy / Space Physics Condensed Matter & Materials Physics Nuclear and Plasma Physics Particle Physics Photonics Physics and Life Sciences Transferable Skills Workshops, Summer Schools, Meetings, Distinguished Visitors  Prize Studentships

3. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Graduate School - Delivery Flexible Approach Videoconference linked lectures Face – to – face Workshops Summer schools On-line, web based

4. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Graduate School - Metrics

5. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Videoconferencing

6. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Videoconferencing Resources Eight dedicated videoconferencing seminar rooms Eight dedicated videoconferencing seminar rooms JVCS Multipoint Service for site interconnectivity JVCS Multipoint Service for site interconnectivity JVCS Recording Service JVCS Recording Service Other organisations videoconferencing facilities as required: Other organisations videoconferencing facilities as required:CERN Rutherford Laboratories University of Durham

7. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Videoconferencing Scale of Operation 2010/11 8 Institutions 8 Institutions 61 courses delivered by videoconference 61 courses delivered by videoconference 607 registered students 607 registered students 774 videoconference session hours 774 videoconference session hours

8. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Videoconferencing A Typical Day

9. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Videoconferencing How did it begin? SUPA Founded in 2005 SUPA Founded in 2005 Target to have dedicated facilities up and running for session 2006/7 Target to have dedicated facilities up and running for session 2006/7 Individual institutions provided with funding to build a dedicated videoconferencing seminar room Individual institutions provided with funding to build a dedicated videoconferencing seminar room Some institutional experience of trying to teach in inappropriate videoconferencing meeting rooms Some institutional experience of trying to teach in inappropriate videoconferencing meeting rooms

10. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Videoconferencing Design and Tender Process Agreed in mid 2005 that a collaborative approach should be adopted to system design Agreed in mid 2005 that a collaborative approach should be adopted to system design Group of technical experts and academic colleagues set up to develop system specification Group of technical experts and academic colleagues set up to develop system specification OJEC tender issued September 2005 OJEC tender issued September 2005 VC installation contractor appointed March 2006 VC installation contractor appointed March 2006

11. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Videoconferencing Design Objectives Facilities should be self-drive by the lecturer and students Facilities should be self-drive by the lecturer and students Ease of use with minimum training Ease of use with minimum training Intelligent control system which ensured that the system automatically defaults to a standard set up on call connection Intelligent control system which ensured that the system automatically defaults to a standard set up on call connection All rooms should have the same technical system, facilities and control system menu structure All rooms should have the same technical system, facilities and control system menu structure

12. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Videoconferencing Construction Mid 2006 work on fabric work in the rooms commenced. Mid 2006 work on fabric work in the rooms commenced. Several rooms running late Several rooms running late Limited commissioning, test, and training Limited commissioning, test, and training Started sessions in September 2006 Started sessions in September 2006

13. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Videoconferencing The Student Viewpoint

14. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Videoconferencing The Student Viewpoint

15. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Videoconferencing The Presenter Viewpoint

16. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Videoconferencing Did it all work like magic in year one? Network Issues Network Issues Interoperability with JVCS issues Interoperability with JVCS issues Equipment issues Equipment issues Training and familiarisation issues Training and familiarisation issues

17. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Videoconferencing Did it all work like magic in year one? SUPA Learning Technologists SUPA Learning Technologists Institutional AV and IT Experts Institutional AV and IT Experts JVCS Technical Experts JVCS Technical Experts VC Equipment and Installation Supplier VC Equipment and Installation Supplier VC Equipment Manufacturer VC Equipment Manufacturer Academic Staff Academic Staff Students Students

18. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Videoconferencing Year one was a bumpy ride Technical and network issues resolved Technical and network issues resolved Rooms completed Rooms completed Training material developed Training material developed Self help fault finding guides created Self help fault finding guides created User confidence increased User confidence increased

19. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Videoconferencing Final Thoughts Collaborative process and design principles were correct Collaborative process and design principles were correct Timetable very challenging Timetable very challenging Institutional estates issues created greatest delay Institutional estates issues created greatest delay Commissioning, test, and training period was squeezed Commissioning, test, and training period was squeezed The students were here so teaching had to start The students were here so teaching had to start

20. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Videoconferencing Scale of Operation 2010/11 8 Institutions 8 Institutions 61 courses 61 courses 607 registered students 607 registered students 774 videoconference session hours 774 videoconference session hours

21. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Graduate School - Vision The Five Year Vision: Over the next 5 years, the SUPA Graduate School will raise its position as a world leading location for advanced post-graduate training in physics. To achieve our vision, we will 1.increase the total number and access of post graduate students entering Scottish physics departments 2.ensure excellence in education, training and supervision of SUPA PhDs (define and measure SUPA standards; compare with world leading HEIs) 3.increase the impact of Scottish post graduate and post doctoral physicists world-wide 4.realise the true benefits of pooling in seizing the advantages of scale in funding and collaboration

22. Scottish Universities Physics Alliance SUPA Graduate School Avril Manners Director, SUPA Graduate School Avril.Manners@SUPA.ac.uk www.supa.ac.uk