HE/FE NEWS Imperial College London moves to Canvas for virtual learning
Imperial College London is launching Instructure’s Canvas as its new university-wide Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The 10-month implementation has streamlined course migration and supported a comprehensive change management and data strategy, enabling staff to easily access and redesign their teaching materials.
Canvas will replace multiple legacy systems used across Imperial, creating a single central hub for learning and teaching for more than 24,000 students and 4,000 staff. The move is designed to provide a more consistent digital experience across departments while retaining the flexibility required by Imperial’s diverse disciplines and programmes.
Canvas is expected to make it easier for staff and students to navigate, teach, learn and collaborate, while supporting greater efficiency, insight and resilience across the institution. Accessibility is central to the new environment, with built-in
features including screen reader compatibility, alternative text and customisable settings designed to enable every student to engage fully and equitably.
Professor Alan Spivey, Vice Provost (Education and Student Experience) at Imperial College, said: “As a global leader in science, engineering, medicine and business, we require a learning platform that is intuitive, reliable and capable of supporting innovative teaching at scale. This transition is about ensuring that our learning environment reflects Imperial’s ambition to equip students with the knowledge, skills and opportunities they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”
Henry Clifford-Jones, Managing Director of EMEA at Instructure, said: “Imperial’s decision reflects a broader shift we are seeing across higher education; institutions are looking beyond individual digital tools and thinking about how technology can create a more connected and consistent learning experience.”
Middlesbrough College recognised for technical and vocational excellence
Middlesbrough College is set to play a leading role in shaping vocational and technical skills across the North East after being named the area’s Technical and Vocational Excellence (TVE) Hub by the Association of Colleges (AoC). The prestigious appointment puts the college at the centre of a major national programme designed to support teachers, lecturers and education leaders as new technical and vocational qualifications are introduced across England.
As one of only nine TVE Hubs nationwide, Middlesbrough will help drive improvements in technical education across the region, working closely with schools, colleges, training providers, employers and industry partners to ensure learners develop the skills local businesses need now and in the future.
The hubs form a key part of the Technical and Vocational Professional Development Programme (TVPD), funded by the Department for Education and delivered by the AoC. The programme is being designed by the sector for the sector, and it will help educators prepare for the continued expansion of T Levels, the introduction of new V Levels and revised Level 2 qualifications, ensuring students benefit from high-quality pathways that reflect the latest industry standards and workforce requirements.
In this new role, Middlesbrough College will lead collaboration across the region, sharing expertise and best practice while strengthening links between education providers and employers. The appointment recognises the college’s
longstanding commitment to technical and vocational education and its track record of working with employers to equip learners with the skills needed for successful careers. David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges, said: “The new role is expected to bring together education providers and employers from across
the North East, helping to strengthen skills development, support economic growth and ensure the region is well placed to meet future workforce demands.”
As the North East’s TVE Hub, Middlesbrough College will now work with education and industry partners across the region to develop and deliver professional development, share expertise and support the successful introduction of new technical qualifications. The work will help ensure teaching keeps pace with changing industry needs and that learners across the North East have access to high-quality technical education and clear routes into skilled employment.
New Student Village completed at University of Staffordshire
Contractor Willmott Dixon has completed the new Student Village at the University of Staffordshire, a 1,000-bed development in Stoke-on-Trent. Working with the
university, the £100 million scheme was delivered under a Design, Build, Finance, Operate (DBFO) model by a consortium
of Willmott Dixon, HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions UK and Ireland, Plenary and Pinnacle Group.
At the centre of the site is a £12 million student hub, designed to be net zero carbon in operation. Across four levels, it provides individual and group study areas, social and welfare facilities, a landscaped garden lounge and a double-height events hall.
The development also included the refurbishment of 300 rooms at The Swan Building, upgrading the living space and installing low-energy systems to improve the block’s energy performance.
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The DBFO model allows the university to spread the cost over a 50-year period while retaining flexibility during construction.
The project has delivered wider social value for the local area, including 1,000 students engaged through education programmes, 500 weeks of careers support, community volunteering and charity initiatives and mental health awareness campaigns with Lighthouse Charity. Dan Doyle, delivery director at Willmott Dixon, said: “The ambition here was never simply to build more accommodation. It was to create an inclusive student community, with sustainable, future-ready buildings on a campus that attracts and retains students, and to support the university’s long-term plans for sustainability, wellbeing and growth. “Getting the superstructure up in 32 weeks came from taking the offsite decision early and holding to it, and that same early engagement is why the university has paid what it expected to pay. Pace and cost certainty together are what universities are asking of us.”
Steve Rimell, Chief Financial Officer at the University of Staffordshire, said: “We are delighted with the outcome of the Student Village project, and as CFO I am particularly pleased that it was delivered on time and on budget. The student hub is going to be extremely impactful for student amenities and wellbeing, and as a way of connecting the accommodation with our main campus.”
October 2026
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