Lauren Johnston-Smith
Integrated Training Team Manager
- Digital Skills, Design and Training
- Learning, Teaching and Web Services
- Information Services
Contact details
Address
- Street
-
5 Forrest Hill
- City
- Edinburgh
- Post code
- EH1 2QL
Availability
Mon 0830-1700
Tues 0815-1645 (usually an office day)
Weds 0800-1700
Thurs 0815-1715 (usually an office day)
Fri 0900-1300
Background
Lauren leads a team of trainers and designers in Digital Skills, Design and Training, with responsibility for developing and delivering targeted and integrated training for students and staff. An experienced manager of teams, digital services and projects, Lauren has work in the University since 2010 and has dedicated 20+ years to advancing higher education, having worked at Edinburgh School of Art (when it was a small specialist institution) and at the University of Glasgow's Veterinary School. With a career that has spanned delivery of professional development and strategic roles in marketing and communications, Lauren has a deep knowledge of the lifelong and professional learning market and the needs and motivations of those seeking to upskill. Lauren has an established track record of leveraging her strong communication and networking skills to build robust relationships with stakeholders, driving engagement and aligning local project goals with broader University strategies.
Qualifications
- Gàidhlig (An Cursa Inntrigidh) - Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
- PG Dip in Chinese - Durham University
- MA (Hons) History of Art - University of Glasgow
Project activity
Lauren has been involved in a range of projects at the University. Recent projects include:
- Launching the new Short Courses Platform (visit SharePoint or find yourself a course)
- Leading the first university-wide advertising campaign (for online learning)
- Distance Learning at Scale
- Myth busting online learning short film series
- Conducting and filming interviews with online students and graduates
- Online learning student journeys - Review of the online learning student digital experience and delivery of a pilot.
Invited speaker
- UNIVERSITIES ASSOCIATION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING, WARWICK 2026 - Showcase: Transformative Lifelong Learning in an Evolving World
- COUNCIL FOR ADVANCEMENT AND SUPPORT OF EDUCATION EUROPE CONFERENCE, BIRMINGHAM 2025 - Round table: Collaborative Innovation: Building Bridges for Lifelong Learning Success
- COUNCIL FOR ADVANCEMENT AND SUPPORT OF EDUCATION EUROPE CONFERENCE, MANCHESTER 2024 - Paper: From Casual Learner to Committed Student: Marketing Strategies for Lifelong Learning Pathways
- WORLD CONFERENCE FOR ONLINE LEARNING, DUBLIN 2019 - Concise paper ‘Transforming working practice and impacting positively on lives through online learning’