Further to our previous blogpost, Turnitin has now released a statement to address the concerns that staff and students have over the proposed user license agreement changes:
In response to concerns raised by UK universities and colleges, which have been channelled through UCISA, Turnitin postponed the issue of a new End-User Licence Agreement (EULA) until September 2027.
Turnitin have also committed to redrafting the EULA and will work in partnership with UCISA who represent educational institutions across the UK to address any concerns and clarify key questions.
Turnitin has confirmed that no student or staff data has been used to develop any generative artificial intelligence (AI) models or large language models (LLM), and that they have no plans to use student essays in this way.
Turnitin recognise the growing concerns around data privacy and AI. They are therefore fully committed to the collective work that they are engaged with through the UCISA representation group and their institutional members.
This working partnership demonstrates Turnitin’s commitment to protecting student and staff data.
If you have any questions or concerns about this, you are welcome to contact the Digital Education Team on elearning@aber.ac.uk.
The Digital Education Team is providing an update on Turnitin and User License Agreements.
You may have heard about concerns regarding Turnitin user license agreements and Generative AI.
When you log in to use Turnitin, staff and students need to accept the terms of agreement to use the platform.
Over the summer, we received a notification from Turnitin that they were updating its license agreement, with the intention that this will be applied to all users (staff and students).
As part of this license agreement, it was proposed that student submissions and staff feedback would be used to train large language models.
We, along with the rest of the sector, had concerns over this. We were unhappy with how Turnitin planned to introduce this update, without warning, and over the security of student work and staff feedback.
Working alongside UCISA, the professional membership body for digital, IT, and information systems in UK higher education, and other universities, we lobbied against this change.
Following this, Turnitin did not introduce the updated license agreement.
You might have seen that other universities are starting to move away from Turnitin. For the year ahead, we are continuing to use Turnitin.
In terms of our own license, we renew on an annual basis, and we are contracted up until July 2027.
We ran a pilot a couple of years ago to look at the feasibility of moving away from Turnitin, but at that point the tools in Blackboard didn’t meet all our requirements. We do keep a close eye on both text-matching and submission tools in Blackboard to see whether they offer a viable alternative to Turnitin.
We meet our Turnitin Customer Account Manager regularly throughout the year, and we’re able to feedback our concerns and issues. We were in touch with them about the proposed changes to the licence agreement. We also work with sector bodies who lobby and advocate with software vendors on behalf HE institutions.
If you’d prefer not to use Turnitin, Blackboard Assignment has submission and marking tools which you can use – all the guidance is available on our web pages, and we’d be happy to work with anyone who would like to switch to using it. It does offer a number of benefits that Turnitin doesn’t have – for example, multi-part submissions and group assignments. However, there are some limitations – the biggest 2 are that marks aren’t released automatically on a ‘Post Date’ and it’s not possible to submit work on behalf of students.
If you have any concerns about this update, you are welcome to contact the Digital Education Team on elearning@aber.ac.uk.
We would like to thank all of our contributors and attendees. The sessions were of such high quality.
We’re already heading into planning our 15th Annual Education and Student Experience Conference which is scheduled to take place in July 2027 (date TBC).
Generative AI has created a particular challenge for assessment practices.
On the afternoon of Wednesday 25 November, Library Academic and Digital Services will be hosting a special good practice event focused on assessment design within the context of Generative AI.
We are inviting submissions from colleagues to share their innovative assessment practices in short 10–15-minute talks.
We’re looking for a mix of assessments that are either designed to:
Incorporate the use of Generative AI or
Prevent the use of Generative AI and enhance assessment validity
It would be great to have an example from each department.
We’re delighted to welcome some more external speakers to our Annual Education and Student Experience Conference.
On Thursday 10 September, Blackboard’s Ruben Jacquart will be joining us.
Ruben Jacquart is a Senior Solutions Engineer with over 10 years of experience supporting higher education institutions in their digital learning transformation journeys. Based in Amsterdam, he works closely with universities and business schools across Europe and the UK to help institutions enhance teaching, learning, accessibility, and student success through innovative educational technology.
His expertise spans learning management systems, digital accessibility, learning analytics, artificial intelligence, interoperability standards, and enterprise integrations. Ruben regularly collaborates with institutional leaders, academic staff, and technology teams to address strategic and operational challenges in digital education.
He is particularly passionate about advancing accessibility in education and helping institutions create more inclusive learning environments. Through his work with Ally, he supports universities in improving the accessibility of digital course content, empowering educators to adopt inclusive practices, and ensuring that all learners have equitable access to educational resources. Ruben is also deeply interested in how AI and data-informed approaches can further enhance the learner experience while strengthening inclusion and student success.
Ruben will be running a 1-hour session.
The session will include latest updates to:
Blackboard Ally
Blackboard AI Design Assistant
New features roadmap for Blackboard
We’re really excited about some of the new features that are included in the Blackboard Ally update.
In the next 1-3 months, there’s going to be a new enhanced reader for students. In addition to all the great features already included in Ally, this will include features that help focus attention.
Following Blackboard’s session, Ifat Shah from Life Sciences and Jim Woolley from Student Journey will be giving a presentation on Blackboard Achievements. Colleagues in Life Sciences have been using it this year to record the DLS Skills Passport.
We’re delighted to welcome several stands across our in-person days at this year’s Annual Education and Student Experience Conference.
All stands will be in the Think Tank on Wednesday 9 September and Thursday 10 September.
AberSkills
Library Academic and Digital Services’ Non Jones will be hosting a stand to showcase the latest news from AberSkills, the home of skills development at Aberystwyth University. We’ve got some sessions as part of the conference focusing on Skills – Jim Dickinson from WONKHE and Trish McGrath from UndebAber will be leading a session, and Joy Cadwallader and Keziah Garratt-Smithson will be launching the Digital Discovery Tool.
Education and Student Experience Award Recipients
Recipients of last year’s Education and Student Experience Awards will be staffing stands so that delegates can hear all about the projects:
The Aber Medieval Physic Garden
Developing a Sustainable Student Gear Hub
Inclusivity and Accessibility in Assessment Design and Feedback Practices
Pulling together– supporting teamwork assessment more effectively
RLF Writing Stand
On Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 September, we are delighted to welcome Samanthan Wynne-Rhydderch who will be hosting a stand.
Samantha is the Royal Literary Fellow here at Aberystwyth.
The RLF Fellowship scheme for writers was launched in autumn 1999 and is based in UK universities. About 750 writers work as Fellows at over 100 different institutions. The principal aim of the Fellow’s work is to foster good writing practice across all disciplines and media by showing students how to write with clarity and flow. Typically, a student will see the Fellow, a professional published author, one-to-one, for 50 minutes.
Our Digital Education training programme is now available for staff to book onto on the staff booking page
Our training is split across 3 levels:
E-learning Essentials:
Our E-learning Essentials sessions provide a practical introduction to the University’s core digital learning technologies and the policies that support their use. These sessions are ideal for colleagues who are new to a tool, taking on a new teaching role, or looking to refresh their knowledge.
You will gain confidence in using technologies such as Blackboard, Turnitin, Panopto, Microsoft Copilot, and Vevox, as well as learn about key processes that support learning, teaching, and assessment.
Sessions available:
Become a Document Pro
Introduction to Blackboard Ally
Introduction to Blackboard Ultra
Introduction to Component Marks Transfer
Introduction to Microsoft Copilot for Learning and Teaching Activities
Introduction to Panopto Lecture Capture and Teaching Room Equipment (bilingual)
Introduction to Turnitin (bilingual)
Introduction to Vevox Polling Software
E-learning Enhanced:
OurE-learning Enhancedsessions focus on designing and creating engaging learning activities using digital tools within your own teaching context.
These hands-on workshops will help you explore innovative approaches to learning design, assessment, accessibility, and student engagement, enabling you to make more effective use of the University’s digital learning environment.
Sessions available:
Becoming an Alternative Text Pro
Design Interactive Online Learning Activities Using Blackboard Discussions and Journals
Designing Blackboard Tests
Designing Learning and Teaching Activities Using Vevox
Introduction to the Blackboard AI Design Assistant
Measuring and Increasing Engagement Using Blackboard Tools
Peer Assessment with Turnitin
Preparing for Your Blackboard Exam
Using the Advanced Features of Panopto
E-learning Excellence:
Our E-learning Excellence programmeis designed for colleagues who want to create outstanding digital learning experiences and align their courses with recognised best practice.
Based on theBlackboard Exemplary Course Award rubric, these sessions explore the key elements of high-quality course design and effective digital pedagogy. While the sessions are designed as a complementary four-part series, you are welcome to attend individual sessions according to your interests and needs.
Sessions available:
Exemplary Assessment Design
Exemplary Course Design
Exemplary Interaction and Collaboration
Exemplary Learner Support
Submitting an Exemplary Course Award
We are committed to making our training as accessible and inclusive as possible. If you are unable to attend a session but would like access to the training materials, or if you would like to discuss any aspect of the session format or accessibility requirements, please contact the Digital Education Group at elearning@aber.ac.uk.
We look forward to seeing you at a forthcoming session.
The Annual Education and Student Experience Conference brings colleagues together to celebrate, share and showcase the innovative work taking place across our University to enhance learning, teaching and the student experience.
This year, a total of £10,000 is available, with applications welcomed for projects of up to £2,000 each.
Projects should align to this year’s conference themes.
Diversifying the curriculum
Skills, graduate attributes, and real-world application of competencies
Students as co-creators and collaborators
The awards are funded through the Education and Student Experience Fund and the Race Equality Charter Fund.
We encourage applications from across the University community and welcome proposals which would make a difference to our education and student experience.
Applicants should attend this year’s conference, which is taking place between 8-10 September. You can book your place using this online form.
The conference programme includes presentations from recipients of last year’s awards.
Are you thinking about coming to the Education and Student Experience conference in September? Maybe you’ve never attended before, or you are new to the university. Perhaps you’re not sure whether it would be a good use of your time. With just under a month to go, we wanted to release a blogpost outlining previous conference feedback.
Of course, we would say it’s the best three days in the diary (we do organise it!), but what do attendees from last year say?
Every year we run a feedback survey with people who have been to the conference. And last year 97% of people who responded rated the conference as 4 or 5 out of 5. And 90% said that it met their expectations.
The aspects of the conference that attendees valued the most were that it provided an opportunity to discuss up-to-date topics in learning and teaching, and community building. The mix of internal and external speakers means you have the chance to find out what’s going on in other AU departments, as well as universities in the UK and beyond. And you can meet staff in other departments who may share the same teaching or research interests as you. There’s plenty of time during breaks to meet new people as well as catch-up with colleagues you haven’t seen for a while.
Not only is the conference a great event, but attendees say that it has a direct impact on their teaching practice. Through both the conference papers and workshops, and the conversations, staff say that they use new approaches learnt from the conference in their teaching. After last year’s conference, several staff members told us they were going to explore using AI in their teaching. If you are thinking of applying for AdvanceHE fellowship, the conference is also a great way of taking part in CPD and reflecting on your teaching practice.
One of the messages that attendees suggested that we share more widely is that you’re welcome to dip in and out of the conference. We know that you may not be able to spend all three days attending, but you can come along for a couple of talks that really interest you. And of course, you can stay for as long as you like if you find that you want to carry on the conversation, or another session catches your eye.
So, it’s not just the organising team who rate the conference highly – staff from across the university agree that it’s a good way of meeting colleagues, discussing teaching topics, and learning something that they can use in their teaching. Come along and join them and find out for yourself. We’d love to see you there.
