Researchers across the University are preparing to showcase their digital expertise as part of a packed programme for the largest tech event in the UK.
Leeds Digital Festival (LDF) has announced the full schedule for its latest instalment of the hugely popular tech showcase, with 300 events taking place from next Monday until Friday 1 October.
Now in its sixth year, LDF is an open, collaborative festival celebrating digital culture in all its forms, with events covering fintech, coding, social media, artificial intelligence (AI), healthtech and more.
Due to the pandemic, last year's festival was split into two virtual sets of programmes, attracting in excess of 45,000 attendees from more than 60 countries as far afield as Benin, Peru and Kazakhstan.
The 2021 edition will take a hybrid approach, with festival organisers looking forward to reintroducing physical events to run alongside the virtual programme, helping to build its growing reputation on both a national and global scale.
As one of the festival's main sponsors, the University is hosting eight free events (see below for full details).
Carol Elston, Head of the Digital Education Service at the University, said: "We're delighted to be sponsoring Leeds Digital Festival, celebrating digital culture and the breadth of collaboration across Leeds City Region and beyond.
"As digital skills become more embedded in the ways we reimagine life and work, the importance of innovation, partnership and community grows. The University is proud to help foster these values as we lead our own digital transformation and invest in the online learning and digital tools and systems staff and students need in a digital-savvy world."
Supporting regional business growth
The Digital Series, presented by experts in Leeds University Business School (LUBS), will deliver a range of webinars designed to enhance digital knowledge and business strategy, exploring topics from digital marketing to the Internet of Things (IoT), innovating through online collaboration and more.
Professor Krsto Pandza and Dr Josh Morton will offer practical guidance into the potential benefits and pitfalls of a participative strategy process, as enabled by digital technologies
Professor Sarah Underwood, Director of External Engagement in LUBS, said: "The Business School is a real game changer in supporting regional businesses' growth by ensuring that the local workforce has the skills to thrive in today's fast-changing digital environment.
"We aim to bridge the gap between academia and industry, and this year we've brought together five events for the digital festival, which all focus on digital strategy and transformation and aim to share the latest research and knowledge with industry experts.
