Katharine Jewitt


Dr Katharine Jewitt BA Hons, MA, MAODE, MSc HRM, MRES, MBA, MEd, FHEA, FRSA, FSET, CMALT is a Visiting Honorary Associate in The Open University's Faculty for Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, an independent Educational Technology and Management Consultant. She works as a lecturer at The Open University in the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies; Faculty of Business and Law and The Centre for Inclusion and Collaborative Partnerships. She works for The Open University's Teaching and Learning Centre and International Development Office in a consulting capacity. She also works as a Mentor for FutureLearn and is a Producer Editor for OpenLearn. She is a School Governor and mentors staff to achieve Fellowship status for the Higher Education Academy. Jewitt teaches ESL in China. Previously, Jewitt was Director of Teaching, Learning, Curriculum and Quality at Prospects College of Advanced Technology and has held senior positions in industry, including DHL, Exel and Fujitsu.

Early life

Jewitt was born in 1977 in Preston, Lancashire. She was educated at Kirkham Grammar School, an independent school in Kirkham, Lancashire and went on to achieve a total of eight degrees. She graduated from Staffordshire University with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours degree in History and Politics. She then gained a postgraduate qualification in Politics at Staffordshire University in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Jewitt continued studying at the Open University gaining a
Master of Business Administration, a Master of Science in Human Resource Management, a Master of Arts degree in Online and Distance Education, a Master of Education in Education with Lifelong Learning, a Master of Research in Educational Technology and completed a PhD in The School of Education at The University of Glasgow. Jewitt's PhD research was in the use of virtual reality to enhance learning in small and medium enterprises.

Research

Dr Jewitt completed her PhD at University of Glasgow’s School of Education in virtual reality learning in SMEs.
Research activities are in Technology Enhanced Learning, learners' experiences and uses of technology in learning, mobile learning environments, computer supported collaborative learning, learning in virtual, augmented and mixed reality.
Jewitt has much experience in real world research in a range of contexts and has carried out pioneering research, working with local councils to develop an alternative education system for young people excluded from school.
Jewitt’s greatest achievements include working with county councils in England to build an online distance education system for young people excluded from school to be educated from their home. She also developed a virtual learning environment to support and enhance psychological well-being for young people going through key life transition points and developed virtual reality training systems with councils to support newly qualified social workers working with vulnerable children and young people, using virtual reality. For her PhD research, she worked with SMEs to use virtual reality to support apprentices’ work-based learning developing a three-way partnership between education provider, SME and apprentice.
Jewitt was appointed a Digital Learning Fellowship by The Education and Training Foundation leading a transformational project to develop and implement a digital learning strategy, for delivery of vocational education of the future.
Jewitt explored specific areas for the application of digital learning and also supporting the wider adoption of good practice in the sector.
Jewitt is a course writer and worked with The Open University International Development Office and NESTA in a project to develop ground-breaking innovation learning through a first of its kind modular curriculum on innovation tools and methods.

Career

After university, Jewitt led a successful supply chain and logistics career at Fujitsu before joining DHL, holding a number of roles encompassing programme management, strategic management and business development; project management; customer service management; warehouse management system designs and implementations, supply chain and procurement; operational management and continuous improvement.
Jewitt founded an education and management consultancy and publishing house in the mid 1990s and has subsequently consulted on education and management change projects for many of the FTSE 100 and leading UK colleges and universities.
With 20 years in the supply chain & logistics sector, whilst working across retail, manufacturing, education, government, technology, pharma sectors, which includes specific specialist experience for many large organisations ~ The Ministry of Defence, BAe, IBM, Fujitsu, BT, M&S, Tesco, Sainsburys, Qiagen; Jewitt has significant experience of the development and implementation of strategy in many FTSE 100 organisations, as well as, from working at The Open University.

Charity work

Jewitt is an advocate of causes such as education equality and social justice. Jewitt works as a prison educator. She is particularly interested in how technology enhanced learning can help people to develop key life skills and realise their full potential. She founded the Digital Learning Community of Practice.

Memberships, awards and honours

Jewitt is recognised in the 2020 Edtech 50 Year book as "one to watch" in building the Edtech UK sector.
Jewitt is listed in the 2019 periodic table of Further Education Educators on Twitter.
On International Women's Day 2019, Jewitt was nominated for four Inspire Women Awards: The 2019 Inspire Women in Education Award, The 2019 Inspire Women in Fitness and Well-Being Award, The 2019 Inspire Women in Leadership Award and The 2019 Inspire Women in IT and Technology Award
In 2017, Jewitt was awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy, the highest level of degree that a student can achieve.
Jewitt is a Founding Member of the Chartered College of Teaching, member of the British Educational Research Association and member of the National Association of Writers in Education.
Jewitt was awarded a Fellow of Society for Education and Training in 2017.
2017 Horizon Project Higher Education Panel of Experts - Jewitt was invited to be on the panel of experts commissioned to identify the trends that will drive technology adoption; the challenges that will impede the technology options available to institutions unless resolved; and the new developments in educational technology that institutions are most likely to consider over the next five years.
Jewitt has been an EPALE Ambassador since 2016, helping to raise awareness for adult learning. Jewitt's work involves increasing access to education for all and improving the quality and efficiency of the adult learning system. She promotes equity, social cohesion and the enhancement of learning environments. The focus of her work is around life skills, training, policies, strategies, financing, learning environments quality and learner support for adult learning.
Jewitt became a Visiting Honorary Associate of the Open University in 2016 in the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Jewitt was awarded a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in 2016.
Awarded the Institutional Change Leader Award in 2016 by the Staff and Educational Development Association, supported by Jisc. Jewitt was recognised as a Change Leader working in partnership on technology-related curriculum innovation projects in UK further education and skills and higher education.
Jewitt is one of Top 50 Educational Social Media Users, as awarded by Jisc
In 2016, Jewitt was shortlisted for The Naace Impact Awards for her leadership impact.
Jewitt was appointed Microsoft Innovator Educator Expert in November 2015.
She served as Chair of the Evaluation of Learners' Experiences of e-learning Special Interest Group 2015-16,
A Digital Learning Fellowship was awarded to Jewitt in April 2015, funded by The Education and Training Foundation.
In 2012, Jewitt was awarded The University of Glasgow College of Social Sciences PGR Scholarship.
Jewitt was awarded a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2008.