Digital transformation and AI: a roadmap for the FE sector

The benefits of digital transformation for students and apprentices, colleges and the wider economy are clear and far-reaching. This new sector-led roadmap sets out how colleges can use digital and AI to improve outcomes for students, apprentices and staff, and build a more responsive skills system, closer aligned to employer needs and the realities of a modern economy.

The roadmap, developed through a strategic partnership between the Association of Colleges and Ufi VocTech Trust, is designed to support every college, regardless of their starting point, to use digital technology and AI with clarity and confidence. It aligns with work already being undertaken by the Department for Education (DfE), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Jisc and Ufi VocTech Trust.  

Our hope is that the roadmap will help the FE sector to review the progress they are making with their Digital Transformation, Digital Technologies and AI adoption and make plans on how to build upon the work already underway. 

The roadmap is structured around three stages of digital transformation – foundation, transform, elevate – and sets our five pillars of activity for each level. Together they set out how colleges can move from early adoption to more embedded and sector leading practice. The levels reflect increasing levels of maturity and activity and align with the purpose and vision of Jisc’s Digital Elevation Tool.

The roadmap identifies a range of initiatives within each pillar that colleges can use to review and RAG rate their digital transformation and set actions on what their next priorities might be to support their journey to enhanced digital maturity.

Colleges may progress through the roadmap at different speeds depending on their strategic priorities, resource availability and organisational readiness. The activity can be repeated to measure distance travelled and to inform their digital strategy and transformation. 

Accompanying the roadmap is a RAG rating tool designed to support colleges in assessing their current position within their digital transformation journey, including the adoption of digital vocational technologies (VocTech) and AI. The tool enables institutions to review the evidence associated with each initiative, identify areas for development, and determine targeted actions to further enhance their digital capability.

To access the Digital Transformation and AI roadmap, please enter your details below:

The roadmap has been created as part of the strategic partnership between AoC and Ufi VocTech Trust. AoC will contact colleges that register to access the roadmap, to understand how they have used it and to evaluate its success and impact, in line with our privacy policy. View our privacy policy.