Elizabeth Jones: Leading the New ALT Wales/Cymru Member Group

For this month’s blog profile, we are excited to introduce the chair of the revived ALT Wales/Cymru member group, Elizabeth Jones. She shares the group’s plans and focus for the coming year, providing insights into what members can look forward to from this dynamic and forward-thinking group.

How has being a member of ALT impacted your career?

In lots of ways, big and small. For example, just being on the ALT Jisc mailing list is a regular source of information, ideas, and news from across the sector. I’ve also been able to attend the ALT Conference a few times, which was truly amazing when I was new to the sector and got to see the range of work being done by colleagues at other institutions and get feedback on my own work. Most significantly I think was getting my CMALT. Once that was on my CV, I felt so much more confident applying for roles as it evidenced my experience really strongly. 

What do you find exciting about working with learning technology?

I love that it’s such a dynamic field, there’s always more to learn about. 

What inspired you to get involved with the ALT Wales/Cymru member group? How can other members get involved? 

I was inspired by a chat with a colleague from another Welsh HE institution when we were both at a conference. Our universities use different VLEs and other tools but we faced so many of the same issues. We wanted a forum where we could discuss them and wondered what had become of the old ALT Wales/Cymru/Cymru group. I contacted ALT to ask about it and coincidentally they were about to put out an open call for people interested in restarting it. The rest, as they say, is history! 

If you’re interested in joining the group and to keep up to date with the news and events, subscribe to the ALT-Wales mailing list. Our first coffee and chat meeting will be on Thursday 3 July, 10 – 11 AM, where we will be exploring AI and Welsh language.

What are the key plans and initiatives that ALT Wales/Cymru will focus on this year?
This year, we’re focusing on getting the word out that we’re back and then finding out what issues and themes are important to our members. We want the group to support members working in Wales/Cymru as we’re often governed by different regulations and educational frameworks than colleagues in England. Obviously the Welsh Language is a big one! How various tools work in a bilingual environment and what we need to do to ensure compliance and promote the use of Welsh. 

Can you share a memorable moment or achievement during your time as an ALT Member?
Presenting at ALT for the first time many years ago. I was so nervous to present at such a big conference but everyone was super supportive and interested in what we were saying. I now love encouraging new members of my team to do the same and being able to offer them that opportunity is one of my favourite things. 

What was the last thing you read or watched?

I’ve just finished the new series of Severance. I thoroughly recommend it. 

If you were on a deserted island, what is the one thing you would take?

As many books as I can carry! 

We hope you enjoyed hearing from the chair of the ALT Wales/Cymru member group, Elizabeth Jones. If she has inspired you to get involved with ALT Wales/Cymru, join the group and keep up to date with the news and events, subscribe to the ALT-Wales/Cymru mailing list. If you would like to get involved in the organisation of the Group and its activities, let us know by expressing an interest.

Future profiles will feature colleagues involved with Special Interest and Members Groups, CMALT holders, ALT Members, Trustees, assessors, apprentices and ALT staff. If you are a current member of ALT and would be interested in featuring in an upcoming post or want to recommend someone members would be interested in hearing from, please contact us at blog@alt.ac.uk.