Dr Brian McGowan from the Centre for Professional Practice Enhancement (CPPE) has been named one of 15 education and research sector community champions by Jisc.
This is the third time Ulster University has received this prestigious, sector wide recognition, with Dr John Bustard (Dept of Management Leadership & Marketing) winning in 2024 and Richard Beggs (CPPE) in 2022.
Community champions are leading lights in the education and research sector. They dedicate their time by sharing knowledge and technical expertise to encourage collaboration and make a positive impact on colleagues and students across the sector.
Dr McGowan was nominated in the Community Innovator category for supporting GenAI literacy, creating agile approaches to learning and teaching that centre on the authenticity of the staff/student relationship. Part of a new and passionate community within Ulster University and across wider institutional working groups, Brian creates blogs and guidance on AI policy, helping to shift staff behaviours.
Commenting on his recognition, Dr Brian McGowan said:
“I’m genuinely honoured and humbled to be recognised as a Jisc Community Champion. What motivates me most is collaboration; creating shared understanding around GenAi practice so we can support one another with confidence.
By working together, we can promote responsible innovation, strengthen GenAi capability, and ensure students remain safe, informed, and supported in a fast-changing GenAi saturated landscape.”
The Jisc community champions programme celebrates passionate individuals who make a difference beyond their own institution, bringing people together to solve problems and share experience for the good of all. Each champion will enjoy a special trip to Jisc’s flagship conference, Digifest, (10-11 March) where they will be able to network and celebrate with other community champions.
Out of 43 nominees, the community champions were chosen by a panel of former champions and Jisc representatives chaired by Carolina Barnes, community specialist and Natasha Veenendaal, head of community and engagement at Jisc.
A full list of community champions, finalists and nominees is available on the Jisc website.
