Personal information

Legitimation Code Theory, Apprenticeship, Work-based learning, SD-Logic, Critical Realism

Biography

Following a brief career as a secondary school science teacher, I worked in the IT industry. After twelve years in various roles, including software engineer, Database Consultant and Project Manager, I moved to Staffordshire University as a senior lecturer. I was particularly interested in the university’s focus on practical scholarship and its links to local industry. My own industrial experience continues to help me illustrate academic concepts through real life experiences and link my classroom teaching to career roles.

My previous work in industry underpins my firm belief that our experiences in non-formal and informal settings both complement and extend our formal learning. Throughout my time at Staffordshire University, I have been a passionate exponent of experiential and life-long learning. This has resulted in me leading the development of programmes such as negotiated learning frameworks and degree apprenticeships which support these goals and provide alternative pathways through Higher Education.

I welcome opportunities to work with industry partners and am involved in part-funded innovation projects in the areas of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. At Staffordshire University, I am a member of the C3 research centre, and my cross-disciplinary research also links to the SCoLLP research centre. It is focussed on improving the learning experience including developing innovative pedagogies for non-traditional learners, and understanding the perspectives of apprenticeship stakeholders including apprentices, employers, mentors, regulatory bodies and government departments.

My teaching includes work on degree apprenticeship programmes as well as non-apprenticeship courses at levels 3 through to 7. My teaching focus reflects my industrial experience and is centred on Informatics, Data Science, Technical Service Management and IT Project Management. Additionally, I enjoy working with non-traditional students and am heavily involved in academic skills development and strengths coaching with the computing foundation year.

I am delighted to have been conferred as Associate Professor of Life-long and Life-wide Learning as the title reflects my journey and my continuing mission to innovate and inspire learners of all ages in formal and other diverse settings.

Activities

Employment (10)

Staffordshire University: Stoke-on-Trent, GB

2024-09-01 to present | Associate Professor of Life-Long and Life-wide Learning (Computing and Esports)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

Staffordshire University: Stone, Staffordshire, GB

1999-01-19 to 2024-08-31 | Senior Lecture (Computer Science)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

The Outsource Group Plc. (EMEA): Bracknell, Berkshire, GB

1998-01-01 to 1998-08-31 | Senior Project Manager
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

Integralis Network Services Ltd: Reading, Berkshire, GB

1996-04-01 to 1997-12-31 | Customer Services Manager (IT)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

Workstation Software, (TOPLOG, UK): Newbury, Berkshire, GB

1994-04-01 to 1996-03-31 | Technical Service Operations Manager
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

Sphinx-Level V Distribution Ltd: Maidenhead, Berkshire, GB

1990-04-01 to 1994-03-31 | Training Services Manager
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

Sphinx-Level V Distribution Ltd: Maidenhead, Berkshire, GB

1990-04-01 to 1994-03-31 | Training Services Manager
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

Sphinx Distribution Ltd: Maidenhead, Berkshire, GB

1987-11-01 to 1990-03-31 | Software Trainer and Database Consultant
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

Videcom: Henley On Thames, Oxon, GB

1986-10-01 to 1988-10-01 | Software Engineer (Software Development)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

Heathland School: Hounslow, London, GB

1984-09-01 to 1986-07-29 | Teacher (Science)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

Education and qualifications (5)

Staffordshire University: Stone, Staffordshire, GB

2016-09 to 2023-08 | Doctorate in Education (Institute of Education)
Qualification
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

Staffordshire University: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, GB

2008-10-29 to 2010-10-29 | PGC. Research Methods (Education)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

University of Birmingham: Birmingham, West Midlands, GB

1985-09-29 to 1986-09-29 | MSc. Computer Sciece (Computer Science)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

University of London: London, London, GB

1982-09-29 to 1983-09-29 | PGCE (Science Education) (Education (Chelsea college))
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

University of Nottingham: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, GB

1979-09-29 to 1982-06-29 | BSc. (Hons) Geology (Geology)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

Professional activities (2)

Advance HE: York, Yorkshire, GB

2015-05 to present |  Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

British Computer Society: London, GB

2015 to present | Professionl Member
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

Works (9)

Literature Review of Explainable Tabular Data Analysis

Electronics
2024-09 | Journal article | Author
Contributors: Helen O’Brien Quinn; Mohamed Sedky; Janet Francis; Michael Streeton
Source: check_circle
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

EXPERIENCES OF ACADEMICS DELIVERING DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMMES IN AN ENGLISH UNIVERSITY: A VISUALISATION OF VARIATIONS IN AUTONOMY

2024-07 | Conference paper
Contributors: Janet Francis
Source: check_circle
Crossref

USING MIND MAPS TO DELIVER PHENOMENON-BASED LEARNING IN A POST 1992 UNIVERSITY: AN ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVE

2024-07 | Conference paper
Contributors: Daniel Campbell; Janet Francis
Source: check_circle
Crossref

Experiences of Academics Delivering Degree Apprenticeship Programmes in an English University: A Visualisation of Variations in Autonomy

EDULEARN24, (16th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies) Palma, Spain. 1-3 July 2024
2024-07-18 | Conference paper
Contributors: Janet Francis; Daniel Campbell
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

Using Mind Maps To Deliver Phenomenon-Based Learning in a Post 1992 University: An Academic Perspective

EDULEARN24, (16th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies) Palma, Spain. 1-3 July 2024
2024-07-18 | Conference paper
Contributors: Janet Francis
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

Sharing Ideas and Practice In Higher Education

Proceedings of INTED 2017 ( 11th International Technology, Education and Development Conference)
2017-03-06 | Conference paper
Contributors: Janet Francis; Clare Stanier; Graham Mansfield; Janet Lawton; Mohammad Hasan; Fiona Knight; Rachel Cornes; Alan Eardley; David Hodgkiss; Euan Wilson
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis

Service innovation using actor network theory

Actor-Network Theory and Technology Innovation: Advancements and New Concepts
2010 | Book chapter
EID:

2-s2.0-84898569997

Contributors: Uden, L.; Francis, J.
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis via Scopus - Elsevier

Service quality for service innovation

Proceedings of 2008 IEEE International Conference on Service Operations and Logistics, and Informatics, IEEE/SOLI 2008
2008 | Conference paper
EID:

2-s2.0-58049156450

Contributors: Uden, L.; Francis, J.; Dai, W.
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis via Scopus - Elsevier

Actor-Network Theory for Service Innovation

Journal article
Contributors: Lorna Uden; Janet Francis
Source: Self-asserted source
Janet Francis via BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine