Janet Francis

Senior Lecturer

School of Digital, Technologies and Arts

Janet is a senior lecturer in databases, IT Service Innovation, and IT Project Management. Her main research interests are Apprenticeship, Workplace Learning, Service Innovation, and Digital Transformation.

 

I am a Senior Lecturer with substantial work experience in the IT industry.

I started working life as a secondary school Science teacher. I became interested in Computer Science and oversaw the installation of a computing laboratory at the school. I then worked with other staff to introduce computers into Science and Mathematics teaching.

To develop my understanding of Computer Science, I left teaching and completed a master’s degree. I subsequently worked in the IT industry.

I held the positions of Software Engineer, Software Trainer (specialising in Databases), Database Consultant and Technical Services Manager. I later moved into Project Management where I managed educational framework projects.

After twelve years in industry, I moved back into teaching at Staffordshire University.

Professional memberships and activities

  • Member of the British Computer Society
  • Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Postgraduate Associate Member, LCT Centre for Knowledge-Building

Academic qualifications

  • Doctorate in Education, Staffordshire University (Ongoing)
  • MSc in Computer Science, University of Birmingham
  • PGCE (Science Teaching), Chelsea College, University of London
  • PGCert Research Methods, Staffordshire University

Expertise

  • Data Management and Databases
  • Data Analytics and Business Intelligence
  • Data Mining and Machine Learning
  • IT Project Management
  • Service Innovation and Digital Transformation
  • Work-based learning and Apprenticeship
  • Legitimation Code Theory
  • Service Dominant Logic

Research interests

  • Service Innovation and Digital Transformation
  • Work-based learning and Apprenticeship
  • Legitimation Code Theory
  • Service Dominant Logic 

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 to develop their professional and academic skills. I use coaching based on strengths profiling which is used in many large corporations but is not common in universities.

I am involved in the delivery of degree apprenticeship programmes

Publications

Selected publications:

Stanier C., Mansfield G, Lawton J., Wilson E., Hasan M., Knight F., Francis J., Cornes R., Eardley W.A., Hodgkiss D., (2017) Sharing Ideas and Practice In Higher Education, Proceedings of INTED 2017 (11th International Technology, Education and Development Conference) 6-8 March 2017, Valencia, Spain. IATED. DOI: 10.21125/inted.2017

Uden, L., Francis, J. (2011) 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.(2008) 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.2008.4683007S.

in the UK for Quality Education

Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023

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