Dr Janet Francis

Associate Professor

Digital, Tech, Innovation & Business

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. I am a member of the C3 research centre, and my research 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.

Professional memberships and activities
  • Member of the British Computer Society (MBCS)
  • Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)

Academic qualifications
  • Educational Doctorate (EdD)
  • MSc Computer Science
  • PGCE (Science Teaching)
  • PGCert Research Methods
  • BSc (Hons) Geology

Expertise

The following areas of expertise underpin my teaching, research and industry collaborations:

  • Data Management and Databases
  • Data Analytics and Business Intelligence
  • IT Project Management
  • Service Innovation and Digital Transformation
  • Teaching and Learning pedagogies
  • Use of AI in Higher Education

Research interests
  • Service Innovation and Digital Transformation
  • Work-based learning and Apprenticeship
  • Teaching and Learning methodologies

Enterprise and commercial interests

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.

Teaching

My teaching focus reflects my industrial experience and is centred on Informatics, Data Science, Technical Service Management and IT Project Management. I teach at all levels from level 3 (Foundation Year) to level 7 (master’s).

I work with students in our foundation year and at level 4 to develop their professional and academic skills. I am an accredited Strengths Profile Practitioner, and my coaching uses the strengths approach to help learners to develop.

I am involved in the delivery of degree apprenticeship programmes.

Publications

Selected Publications and conference papers are as follows:

O'Brien Quinn, H.; Sedky, M.; Francis, J.; Streeton, M. (2024) A Literature Review of Explainable Tabular Data. Electronics 2024, 13(19), 3806; DOI: 10.3390/electronics13193806

Francis, J. (2024) Experiences of Academics Delivering Degree Apprenticeship Programmes in an English University: A Visualisation of Variations in Autonomy, Proceedings of EDULEARN24, (16th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies) Palma, Spain. 1-3 July 2024. pp. 2065-2073., pp. 2055-2064.DOI:10.21125/edulearn.2024.0599

Campbell, D. Francis, J. (2024) Using Mind Maps To Deliver Phenomenon-Based Learning in a Post 1992 University: An Academic Perspective, Proceedings of EDULEARN24, (16th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies) Palma, Spain. 1-3 July 2024. pp. 2065-2073.DOI:10.21125/edulearn.2024.0601

Uden, L., Francis, J. (2010) Service Innovation Using Actor Network Theory, In Tatnall, Arthur, Ed. Actor-Network Theory and Technology Innovation: Advancements and New Concepts. IGI Global. DOI:10.4018/978-1-60960-197-3

Uden, L., Francis, J.(2009) Actor-network theory for Service Innovation, International Journal of Actor Network Theory and Technological Innovation Vol. 1, Issue 1 Pages: 23-44.DOI:10.4018/jantti.2009010102

Uden, L., Francis, J., Dai, W (2008) Service Quality For Service Innovation, Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Service Operations and Logistics, and Informatics, October 12-15, 2008, Beijing, China, Volume 2 Page(s): 2779-2784. DOI:10.1109/SOLI.2008.4683007

External profiles

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021