Author Archives: digitalscholar

About digitalscholar

I am a sociologist with an interest in new technology. Previously I’ve worked on a number of projects at Lancaster University and the Open University looking at the use of new technologies and social media by researchers. I was also a social sciences teaching fellow at the foundation centre at Durham University teaching sociology and anthropology. I am now a senior lecturer at the University of West London's Institute for Teaching, Innovation and Learning where I oversee the foundation provision and support retention. I'm sure I'll still be interested in, and occasionally blog about, tech related things. I use this blog to post thoughts about using new technologies in my professional academic life and wider thoughts and links relating to technology more generally.

Foundation Centre visits Nigeria

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Foundation Centre teachers Nick Pearce and Julie Wilson recently visited Nigeria to learn more about the educational environment there and try and encourage more Nigerian students to come to us.

They visited a number of schools in Abuja and Lagos and met with staff and students. The foundation centre offers an opportunity for Nigerian students to get into Durham with the WAEC which is not considered equivalent to ‘A’ levels or IBs.

Wining and dining in Ikuyi club

Nick and Julie met with Rose from Nubi education and her husband George in the Ikuyi club which dates from 1938. They had the opportunity to try goat pepper soup, which was apparently ‘very spicy’.

Both Nick and Julie enjoyed visiting the country and met lots of great people. They enjoyed sampling the food and the culture. Lagos is certainly a very different city to Durham!

Photo competition winners announced!

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As part of last week’s induction activities we ran a photography competition for Durham and Queens students. We had some fantastic entries through our facebook page and twitter account, and we were really glad to see so many smiling faces at the Treasure Hunt (Durham) and trip to Roseberry Topping (Queens), but after a lot of thought we have decided to announce the following four winners, who will each get a Durham University hoody!