Fiona Knight

Senior Lecturer

Digital, Tech, Innovation & Business

I am a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science and have worked at the university since 1999. I specialise in web development, and my Masters investigated how voice applications on Alexa could be used to help students on their course. I am interested in how interfaces can be designed to help users on many devices from voice, no screen, design to design for large screens.

My main subject area is web development and, as well as teaching all levels at the university, I have presented at local industry events on the subject. If anyone would like a talk, please contact me, and I’d be happy to chat about it. I am passionate about Web Standards and using the platform to gives users the best experience.

I am an external examiner at The University of Huddersfield and Edinburgh Napier University, and have worked on validation events at many institutions, both in the UK and abroad.

I believe students should have the best opportunity to succeed, and am happy to advise where I can to help them achieve their potential.

Professional memberships and activities

Fellow of the Higher Education Society

Academic qualifications

BSC (Hons) Information Systems (2-1)

PGC Higher and Further Education – Wolverhampton University

MRes Computing Science – Staffordshire University

Expertise

Web Development

Web Standards and User Experience

Mobile Application Design and Development

HTML / CSS / JavaScript / Flutter / Vue / React / PHP

Research interests

I have a keen interest in web standards and mobile user experience. I am interested in alternative input devices and display devices, and the use of web technologies to create applications across many domains.

Enterprise and commercial interests

I have worked on several projects with companies under the Staffordshire Digital Innovation Partnerships (https://www.staffs.ac.uk/business-services/funding/staffordshire-digital-innovation-partnerships)

 I have presented at Staffs Web Meetup and Stoke On Tech events

Teaching

  • Web Development
  • Mobile Application Development
  • Client and Server-Side Programming
  • Alexa Development
  • Web Frameworks
  • Skills for Commercial Computing (working with external companies)
  • AI for web developers

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 INTED’17 ( 11th International Technology, Education and Development Conference) 6-8 March 2017, Valencia, Spain

Part of the team on the ECSEC: The Expert Centre for the Support of Electronic Commerce (AWM Skills Development Fund, £380K, Sept 2000) – to supply skills updating in e-business for small business managers

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, 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