LSI is pioneering a new model of teaching that replaces traditional lectures with AI-driven learning and human-led discussion.

Instead of lectures, students are assigned a 24/7 personal AI tutor that adapts to their background, goals, and learning style. The AI delivers tailored content, continuous feedback, and interactive challenges, while human professors focus on mentoring, group discussions, and real-world problem-solving.

LSI offers postgraduate degrees and professional courses in AI, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Its goal is to train leaders capable of managing AI-powered organisations responsibly.

The institution was founded by the team behind WordUp and Geeks Ltd, combining experience in large-scale AI learning and digital transformation.

After a rigorous multi-year review, the UK’s Office for Students (OfS) granted LSI New Degree Awarding Powers in March 2026. This makes it one of a small number of challenger institutions with this status.

LSI is believed to be the first university in the UK to receive such approval with a fully AI-native teaching model, marking a significant shift in how higher education may evolve in the age of artificial intelligence.

As part of YERUN, Bath will collaborate with universities across Europe with the aims of growing research partnerships, fostering innovation and best practice, and influencing EU policy in the sector.

The University will be formally welcomed into YERUN at a General Assembly to be held at the University of South-Eastern Norway in March 2026.

Professor Phil Taylor, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bath, said: “Becoming a member of YERUN, in our 60th anniversary year, will boost the strong international community we have built at the University of Bath, allied to our research impact, global alumni network and excellent graduate outcomes. I look forward to meeting with other YERUN universities in the coming months.”

Dag Rune Olsen, YERUN President, added: “Welcoming the University of Bath to YERUN is a significant and very positive step for our network. The University of Bath embodies the core characteristics of a young research university: excellence in research and education, and a clear commitment to societal impact.

“Bath’s focus on sustainability, health, and digital innovation, combined with deep local and regional engagement, strongly resonates with YERUN’s mission to contribute to the development of Europe’s research and education landscape.”

YERUN further provides the opportunity for the University to increase staff and student mobility, as well as developing Bath’s existing strong links to industry, and providing a platform to join EU policy discussions related to research, innovation, and education. Bath would become the fourth UK university to join YERUN.

Professor Manuel Barcia, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) at the University of Bath, commented: “YERUN will provide us with many fantastic opportunities for collaboration across Europe including facilitating joint research projects, student exchanges and shared funding opportunities. I am excited to begin working with the network in supporting one another to thrive and deliver impact.”

The leading representative body for the sector, Build UK, and major contractor Willmott Dixon hosted the visit at the £48.8 million project to provide a new home for Queen Mary University of London’s School of Business and Management, which is set to complete in 2027. The seven-storey development will offer high-quality, flexible learning and teaching spaces, whilst contributing to the wider enhancement of Mile End Road and the improvement of public spaces.

During the visit, the group of Construction Management students from the Global Banking School, which has campuses across London, heard about the different roles involved in the project before changing into PPE to see the site in action.

The event was an exclusive preview for Open Doors 2026, which will be delivered by Build UK between 23 and 28 March and see organisations across the UK hosting free tours of their sites and workplaces to inspire young people and those seeking a career change to choose construction.

Open Doors 2025 attracted a record 7,000 visitors and comes as the industry needs to recruit around 50,000 extra workers each year to meet demand for housing, infrastructure and maintenance, according to the CITB’s Construction Workforce Outlook report.

Tamsin Parkes, Open Doors Project Manager at Build UK, said: “Open Doors is a fantastic way for schools and colleges to demonstrate that they are meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks by providing an opportunity to see the construction industry in action.

“For today’s students, their visit has helped not only to affirm their career aspirations but given real world context to their studies. There is a career in construction for everybody, and Open Doors is a first step for young people to explore what the industry has to offer.”

Speaking on its partnership with Open Doors, Graham Dundas, CEO at Willmott Dixon and a member of the Build UK Board, added: “As a leading contractor and proud Open Doors partner, we are committed to attracting and developing the next generation of construction talent. Through Open Doors, we’ve seen first-hand how opening our doors to visitors can spark curiosity and reveal career possibilities that young people simply hadn’t considered before.

“Students visiting our sites will be stepping into an industry that offers incredible opportunities, diverse careers, and plays a vital role in building Britain’s future – and they’ll see the quality and innovation we bring to projects like Queen Mary University’s new business school.”

The £1m initial investment represents the university’s first step in becoming a smarter campus, enhancing security, sustainability, and the student experience. Following a highly competitive tender process, North will design an innovative new security access control solution using Genetec technology, which will replace BCU’s current system, which is nearing end of life.

BCU is a vibrant institution, home to over 31,000 students from more than 100 countries, making it one of the largest and most diverse universities in the UK. The access control system upgrade will be implemented across its two city centre campuses, benefitting thousands of students, visitors and staff. The new security system is designed to future-proof BCU’s infrastructure, ensuring resilience, compliance, and an elevated standard of safety.
The upgrade will give the University the ability to transition to app-based digital technology. Supporting BCU’s sustainability goals, contributing to its recognition as the most sustainable university in Birmingham and one of the leading sustainable institutions in the UK.

North’s integrated solution will seamlessly combine the new access control system with existing platforms, such as student records. This integration will streamline operations and enhance security features, while providing valuable data and analytics for university staff, including insights on student accommodation occupancy and attendance metrics.

Andrew Foster, Managing Director for Public Services at North, said: “It is fantastic to partner with BCU in its journey towards becoming a smart campus. This upgrade is an exciting step forward in enhancing campus security while providing students and staff with a modern, user-friendly experience.

“As the squeeze on higher education finances tightens its grip, universities need to think ahead and adopt smart technologies to future-proof their campuses. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and environmentally conscious, embracing these innovations is key to creating smarter, safer and more sustainable, learning environments for future graduates.”

In addition to strengthening physical security, the new access control system will also contribute to compliance with emerging legislation, including Martyn’s Law, by ensuring the university meets safety requirements.
BCU’s commitment to upgrading its security infrastructure reflects its broader vision of becoming a smart campus, embracing cutting-edge technology to improve student experiences and operational efficiencies.

Nick Moore, Director of IT and Digital at BCU, said: “This partnership with North signals our commitment to building campuses that are ready for the future. We’re not just upgrading security; we’re reimagining how people move through and engage with our spaces. North brings the innovation and experience we need to accelerate our shift toward a smart, data-driven environment that supports sustainability and enhances safety.”

The University has selected TechnologyOne’s next-generation Student Management solution as a keystone of its ambitious 2030 growth strategy.

Building on a 17-year partnership, the university recently expanded its use of the platform by adding Timetabling and Scheduling and Project Lifecycle Management (PLM). This latest move to implement Student Management marks its largest future-focused digital transformation to date—aimed at delivering smarter services, stronger student outcomes, and sustainable growth.

Hertfordshire, one of the UK’s fastest growing universities – with plans to increase student numbers from 37,000 to 50,000 by 2030 – selected TechnologyOne for its proven track record, modern SaaS architecture, and deep understanding of UK higher education.

David Gillard, Chief Information and Digital Officer, University of Hertfordshire, said “TechnologyOne is a trusted partner, helping us shape a world-class student experience. Their single platform was key, giving us the digital backbone to grow, evolve, and deliver on our 2030 vision. This partnership is about transformation, with the right technology, at the right time.”

TechnologyOne’s Student Management solution will enable the University to streamline its entire student lifecycle operations, unlock real-time insights, and deliver faster, more personalised services to both students and staff.

Stuart MacDonald, Chief Operating Officer TechnologyOne, said “The University of Hertfordshire is proof of a forward-looking institution focused on innovation and growth. Fast-growing universities like Hertfordshire need platforms that support their 2030 strategic goals. Our single platform is built for exactly this kind of challenge – to help ambitious universities scale, simplify operations, and improve the trajectory and experience for every student. Hertfordshire champions progress. They empower social mobility, and they cultivate the leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. We’re proud to be partnering on this journey.”

The University of Hertfordshire embraces the value of shared local partnerships—particularly the alignment with its local council, which also uses TechnologyOne’s Financials system.

The partnership aligns directly with Hertfordshire’s new Strategy 2025–2030, which focuses on powering its reputation globally as a high-achieving, modern, dynamic and enterprising university, by ‘powering staff, students and society’.

The new model is expected to bring both institutions under one structure, whilst enabling each university to retain its name, identity and local presence.

The collaboration will be a trailblazing model, establishing a first-of-its-kind multi university group, which will create a blueprint for other institutions to follow. The new university group will become one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK and the largest in the South of England. It will be the biggest recruiter of students in London and the South East.

Professor Jane Harrington, Vice Chancellor of the University of Greenwich, said: “Our vision is to deliver education without boundaries, from city to coast. Combining the strengths of two proud institutions gives us a greater foundation to transform lives and unlock opportunity across London and the South East.

“Students will remain at the heart of everything we do, as we continue to provide innovative teaching, personalised support and a culture that celebrates individuality. As a civic university group, we will be a powerful force for our region – energising communities, upskilling local people and partnering with business to tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow.”

Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura, Acting Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Kent said: “This exciting collaboration is about harnessing the combined power of two ambitious universities looking to the future, to ensure we are sustainable, impactful and can make a bigger difference to the communities we serve.

“Together, we can deliver world-class teaching, grow research that tackles real-world challenges, and create new opportunities for people and places across our wider region. From supporting health and wellbeing to driving innovation in food, sustainability and the creative industries, our work will have impact locally, nationally and globally. Importantly, we will foster a culture where staff and students thrive, collaborate and succeed together.”

The new ‘super university’ will have one unified governing body, academic board and executive team, and one vice-chancellor. The first vice-chancellor will be Professor Jane Harrington. Students will continue to apply to, study at and graduate from their chosen university, preserving each institution’s identity whilst benefitting from the scale and opportunities of the new group.

The combined entity will provide a strong financial foundation to weather current and future economic challenges, widen access to higher education across South East London and Kent, address skills gaps and inequalities, and increase research capacity, particularly in shared priority areas, such as food and sustainability, health and wellbeing and the creative industries. Its collective power will enable it to tackle real world issues with greater impact locally, nationally and globally.

The two universities are working closely with the Department for Education and Office for Students, both of whom support the sector’s need to evolve to ensure future sustainability and impact and deliver positive outcomes for students.

The unique internship, which officially began earlier in July, has seen two students join the PPS team to work directly alongside the Managing Director, Joseph Fitzpatrick. It aims to help the firm unlock the value hidden in its data by conducting statistical analysis to support PPS’ wider operations and commercial decision-making.

The pair, Will Hall, a Computer Science MEng student and Cyril Ivanov, who is studying a BSc in Computer Science with AI, have been specially selected for the internship, as each has course-specific specialisms and expertise around data analysis and the use of Artificial Intelligence.

During their time with PPS, the duo will be exploring how AI and machine learning can be applied to optimise key business processes, and will be investigating where predictive models, pattern recognition and intelligent automation could make a positive impact on the company’s operations.

In addition to the business-led objectives of this programme, as a family-owned and operated business with strong ties to the region and a longstanding reputation for professional development within its team, PPS has also made clear its desire to support the vocational aspirations of the next generation.

Freya Sapcote, PPS’ HR Specialist, who is leading the programme, highlighted the already-positive impact it is having: “It might be our first time doing this but we’re approaching this internship programme with the same professionalism we’d take with any of our other roles. No tea-rounds here, both Will and Cyril are working on serious real problems in our business, directly alongside our Senior Leadership Team.

“We’ve all been very impressed by the impact they’ve made in just a few weeks – including statistically debunking a long-standing theory on our delivery data as well as creating an AI solution to our customer service inbox sorting.

“They’ve also brought a new dynamic to the office, which is a positive we hadn’t predicted. Our team is enjoying being able to give advice and development on how to succeed in the workplace.”

The Social Sciences Connect Programme will facilitate a step change in the provision of teaching, learning, research and external engagement across the faculty by enabling greater collaboration across departments and with external stakeholders such as the United Nations University, as we search for solutions to the biggest questions impacting society today and tomorrow.

The Social Sciences Connect Programme will unlock opportunities for students and researchers to engage with peers and experts worldwide by accelerating and amplifying its interdisciplinary programmes to address the change in society’s demand for answers to the big challenges of the 21st century, giving its graduates the skillset to go out into the world and apply those answers. This will create more opportunities for collaboration, reinforcing the University’s position as a world leader in interdisciplinary education and research excellence.

Research and innovation developed as part of the Social Sciences Connect Programme will take an in-depth look at challenges such as the future of democracy, addressing climate change, AI and the future of work, solving global challenges through international cooperation and the future of social science. The project will also build on the success of recent research projects at the University that have focused on international conflict resolution, job quality and the future of work, workplace mental health, tax reforms and detection of fraud.

Professor Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of Warwick, said: “After announcing the Connect Programme last year, we’re delighted to share more information about Social Sciences Connect as the University marks its 60th anniversary year.

“The Social Sciences Connect Programme will foster interdisciplinary education and research excellence and greater collaboration to drive innovative and practical solutions to some of the most critical issues facing the world now and in future.

“Ambitious and wide-ranging in its scope, the project will cement the University’s position as a leader in Social Sciences and is fundamental to our core objectives of leveraging research and education as a force for global good.”

Professor Caroline Elliott, Academic Director of the Social Sciences Connect Programme, said: “This project will only strengthen The University of Warwick’s reputation for high quality education provision and depth of student learning in Social Sciences.

“Through the delivery of new sector-leading courses, at undergraduate and postgraduate level, the project will better equip our students and graduates to confront the world’s most complex societal challenges to create a better future for all.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to be so closely involved with a project that has the potential to uplift the lives of so many people around the world when the University is celebrating a very special milestone on its own journey as a renowned global institution.”

The Connect Programme was launched by the University in October last year.

The brainchild of Professor James Ohene-Djan, Professor of Computer Science at Goldsmiths University, MiCode allows students to securely store and instantly share vital medical information, potentially saving lives in critical situations and ensuring appropriate care during mental health crises.

“Born from our family’s own experiences with complex medical needs, MiCode empowers students and equips university staff, the emergency services, and caregivers with crucial information,” explains Professor Ohene-Djan. “We believe it can be a game-changer, particularly for students navigating their health independently. MiCode can reduce response times, lead to more accurate diagnoses, and ultimately improve student outcomes.”

The launch of MiCode addresses a significant vulnerability. Key Findings from the MiCode Study reveal that over half (56%) of UK adults do not carry their own emergency medical information, and 54% are unsure even of their own blood type.* This widespread lack of preparedness is further compounded by significant knowledge gaps regarding loved ones’ health, with 63% not knowing their loved ones’ allergies, 77% unaware of their blood types, 56% uninformed about their current medications, and 61% lacking knowledge of their medical conditions.

Students, often managing health conditions independently for the first time, are particularly at risk. MiCode empowers them to create secure digital profiles containing crucial medical details, including allergies, conditions, medications, blood type, and emergency contacts. This information is linked to a unique QR code easily displayed on a phone, medical bracelet, or wallet card, enabling immediate access for first responders.

The importance of readily accessible medical information is amplified by the prevalence of mental health challenges among students. A House of Commons Library briefing (September 9, 2024) highlighted this issue, revealing that 57% of students self-report a mental health issue, with 27% reporting a diagnosed condition.

“These statistics underscore a critical vulnerability,” states Professor Ohene-Djan. “Access to students’ vital medical information, including mental health details, can be the difference between life and death. For a student experiencing a panic attack, MiCode can instantly provide first responders with information about their anxiety disorder, prescribed medications, and emergency contact details, enabling a more informed and compassionate response. If a student with a history of depression is found unresponsive, MiCode can alert paramedics to potential underlying mental health conditions, preventing misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment. MiCode offers a simple yet powerful solution.”

The MiCode Study also found that on average, it takes 7.1 minutes to access emergency medical information, totaling over 71 minutes wasted per week**. 42% of emergency workers report it can take up to 10 minutes to access vital emergency information, with delays sometimes exceeding 20 minutes. This highlights the critical need for immediate access to vital information in emergency situations.

The consultation, which runs for 90 days, includes a proposed reduction of 400 (FTE) academic staff and the possibility of School and subject closures and School mergers.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Larner said: “The precarious financial position of many universities, particularly in the context of declining international student applications and increasing cost pressures, and the need to adapt to survive are well documented.

“We know here at Cardiff University that it is no longer an option for us to continue as we are. Our new strategy, co-created with our community, lays out an ambitious future for our University where it is collaborative, innovative, and delivering value for Cardiff, Wales and the wider world.

“Securing that future, in the context of tightening finances, means we need to take difficult decisions to realise our ambitions to enhance our education and research, and improve the staff and student experience.

“We have worked diligently to create initial proposals for a slightly smaller University, refocused around our core and emerging strengths – a University ready to leverage new academic opportunities, prepare students for an adapting world and meet changing market demands as they arise.

“At the same time as putting forward these proposals to reshape our current activities, we will be working on a new model for flexible lifelong learning, new opportunities in transnational education, and new approaches to learning and teaching.

“Our proposals aim to create a more focused, higher quality research environment for staff and students that is world-leading with cynefin, place and co-creation at its heart.

“We also want to ensure a consistently excellent education experience for students of all backgrounds and experiences.

“I want to stress that these are proposals and our final plans will be shaped by our community – both internal and external – through formal consultation. The scale of the challenge will remain, but the way that we address it will certainly be refined and developed over the next 90 days.” ​

The proposed changes include:

• a reduction of academic headcount by c.400 FTE (7% of total workforce), using compulsory redundancy, only if absolutely necessary​
• ceasing subjects and programmes in Ancient History, Modern Languages and Translation, Music, Nursing, and Religion and Theology
• increasing student and staff ratios across the University, while at the same time revising our approaches to learning, teaching and assessment, and simplifying bureaucratic processes
• bringing complementary disciplines together through proposed school mergers. The creation of the School of Natural Sciences (merge Chemistry, Earth Sciences and Physics), School of Data Science, Computing and Mathematics (merge Computer Science and Maths), School of Human and Social Sciences (merge Social Sciences, Geography and Planning) and School of Global Humanities (merge English, Communication and Philosophy, Welsh, and remaining elements of History Archaeology and Religion and Modern Languages)​.
• Professor Larner said: “I know that these proposals impact some staff more than others and they will cause a great deal of uncertainty and anxiety for those potentially impacted.

“We have done everything that we can to avoid reaching this position, but ultimately we know that annual rounds of cuts demoralise our staff, affect our students, and limit our ability to retain and grow new partnerships with our community here in the UK and elsewhere. We need to act now to ensure that we are able to deliver on the aspirations of our new strategy and have a viable university for the future.

“These academically-led proposals aim to reverse our deficit trend and create headroom for new revenue-generating activities to be established,” she added.

A related process to reshape the professional and support services to support our academic aspirations has already begun. ​

Staff briefings were held on Tuesday 28th January and will continue throughout the week. The business cases for each School will be made available through the University’s staff intranet. Current students and other key external stakeholders will be updated on the proposals.

The consultation will run for three months and final plans for approval are expected to be considered by the University Council in June 2025.