Duncan at CAPDM
@capdm.com
I'm the MD of CAPDM Limited in Edinburgh, Scotland. CAPDM helps universities and other learning providers to build and manage world-class programmes of online and distance learning. We've been doing that since 1996. #edtech #highered #elearning
Why do our higher education institutions behave as if their income is set by government and outwith their control? Why is their only response to a tough economy spending cuts? Universities can make money. They have the resources and the opportunity. #highered #ukhe #edtech #distancelearning
An alternative plan for UK HE: make more money
Why do our higher education institutions behave as if their income is set by government and out of their control? Why are spending cuts and department culls their only response to a tough economy? Uni...
www.linkedin.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Why do our higher education institutions behave as if their income is set by government and outwith their control? Why is their only response to a tough economy spending cuts? Universities can make money. They have the resources and the opportunity. #highered #ukhe #edtech #distancelearning
An alternative plan for UK HE: make more money.
Why do our higher education institutions behave as if their income is set by government and out of their control? Why is their only response to a tough economy spending cuts? Universities can make money. They have the resources and the opportunity.
Why do our higher education institutions behave as if their income is set by government and out of their control? Why is their only response to a tough economy spending cuts? Universities can make money. They have the resources and the opportunity.
November 13, 2025 at 3:23 PM
An alternative plan for UK HE: make more money.
Why do our higher education institutions behave as if their income is set by government and out of their control? Why is their only response to a tough economy spending cuts? Universities can make money. They have the resources and the opportunity.
Why do our higher education institutions behave as if their income is set by government and out of their control? Why is their only response to a tough economy spending cuts? Universities can make money. They have the resources and the opportunity.
Our wee company is 29 years old today! 29 years of building and supporting top quality programmes of distance learning for people like the University of London, Pearson, the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors, Mac Keith Press and many, many more.
Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen!
Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen!
October 11, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Our wee company is 29 years old today! 29 years of building and supporting top quality programmes of distance learning for people like the University of London, Pearson, the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors, Mac Keith Press and many, many more.
Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen!
Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen!
LinkedIn has been pushing me - and presumably everyone else - to write a post about AI. So I did. Spoiler: it's a bit grumpy and if you're a fan of using an LLM to generate social media posts or make photos come to life you may not like it.
LinkedIn is badgering me to write a post about AI. Okay then.
Before I start let me clarify that I have not used an LLM to write any part of this post; not to start it off, not to polish its… | Dunca...
LinkedIn is badgering me to write a post about AI. Okay then.
Before I start let me clarify that I have not used an LLM to write any part of this post; not to start it off, not to polish its language...
www.linkedin.com
September 30, 2025 at 5:13 PM
LinkedIn has been pushing me - and presumably everyone else - to write a post about AI. So I did. Spoiler: it's a bit grumpy and if you're a fan of using an LLM to generate social media posts or make photos come to life you may not like it.
One of the more obvious merger possibilities in #UKHE is now officially happening. The claim that this is not about saving money rings pretty hollow. One wonders whether the three campuses will all survive the next few years; Canterbury in particular looks like it could be a casualty. More to come.
UK's first 'super-university' to be created as two merge from 2026
Universities are facing ongoing financial worries, with the regulator saying other mergers could follow.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 10, 2025 at 2:04 PM
One of the more obvious merger possibilities in #UKHE is now officially happening. The claim that this is not about saving money rings pretty hollow. One wonders whether the three campuses will all survive the next few years; Canterbury in particular looks like it could be a casualty. More to come.
I wrote a wee post today about the *end* of a contract. Not a typical thing to write about, but actually contracts end all the time and often that doesn't indicate success or failure so much as just the completion of something - in this case something hugely successful and profitable for both sides!
It's not what #edtech suppliers typically do, but I thought it was worth marking the *end* of a long and fruitful relationship today. | Duncan Hothersall
It's not what #edtech suppliers typically do, but I thought it was worth marking the *end* of a long and fruitful relationship today. CAPDM Limited and the University of the West of Scotland first sta...
www.linkedin.com
August 20, 2025 at 2:41 PM
I wrote a wee post today about the *end* of a contract. Not a typical thing to write about, but actually contracts end all the time and often that doesn't indicate success or failure so much as just the completion of something - in this case something hugely successful and profitable for both sides!
So, I went to Leeds for #OLS25, had a brilliant time, and then got... waylaid somewhat by life events! But I'm back now, and raring to go. My highlights: www.capdm.com/2025/08/15/i...
It's the boring stuff that delivers change - CAPDM
OLS25 took place recently in Leeds. Our MD was there and, after an unexpected hiatus, shares his highlights here.
www.capdm.com
August 15, 2025 at 2:44 PM
So, I went to Leeds for #OLS25, had a brilliant time, and then got... waylaid somewhat by life events! But I'm back now, and raring to go. My highlights: www.capdm.com/2025/08/15/i...
Fantastic #OLS2025 coverage from @dresdeb.bsky.social over the past two days. It's been a great conference and I've met some really interesting new people, as well as bumping into some old friends.
July 11, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Fantastic #OLS2025 coverage from @dresdeb.bsky.social over the past two days. It's been a great conference and I've met some really interesting new people, as well as bumping into some old friends.
Heading down to @universityofleeds.bsky.social today to join #OLS25 starting tomorrow. I know @mdkorosec.bsky.social and the team have been working incredibly hard to put this together. Especially looking forward to @neilmosley.bsky.social, Phil Hill and Glenda Morgan's insights.
July 9, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Heading down to @universityofleeds.bsky.social today to join #OLS25 starting tomorrow. I know @mdkorosec.bsky.social and the team have been working incredibly hard to put this together. Especially looking forward to @neilmosley.bsky.social, Phil Hill and Glenda Morgan's insights.
Reposted by Duncan at CAPDM
Scottish universities recorded a surplus of more than £17 million in the past academic year, a 92 per cent reduction on the £211 million surplus recorded the year before. @twilliamsthe.bsky.social reports
#AcademicSky #EduSky
#AcademicSky #EduSky
Scottish finances drop 92 per cent with nine institutions in red
Increased staff and other operating costs blamed for ‘significant deterioration’, with spending on restructuring ballooning
www.timeshighereducation.com
May 21, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Scottish universities recorded a surplus of more than £17 million in the past academic year, a 92 per cent reduction on the £211 million surplus recorded the year before. @twilliamsthe.bsky.social reports
#AcademicSky #EduSky
#AcademicSky #EduSky
This is a *really* good set of tactics for reducing the impact of AI rot in teaching and learning.
After the brutal reality of dealing with student papers in the ChatGPT era finally hit me, here are a few tactics that I've found at least somewhat effective in getting students to do their own writing: 🧵
May 7, 2025 at 9:42 PM
This is a *really* good set of tactics for reducing the impact of AI rot in teaching and learning.
Reposted by Duncan at CAPDM
The University of Leeds has become the first Russell Group university to officially announce that it is quitting Elon Musk’s social media site X.
It will, however, be alive and well on Bluesky.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
It will, however, be alive and well on Bluesky.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
January 23, 2025 at 2:53 PM
The University of Leeds has become the first Russell Group university to officially announce that it is quitting Elon Musk’s social media site X.
It will, however, be alive and well on Bluesky.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
It will, however, be alive and well on Bluesky.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Oh the joys of being ill right through the Christmas and New Year break and only feeling properly better the evening before you're back to work! Always seems to be the way... Anyway, happy new year everyone. Let's make 2025 a good year for online learning in higher education!
January 6, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Oh the joys of being ill right through the Christmas and New Year break and only feeling properly better the evening before you're back to work! Always seems to be the way... Anyway, happy new year everyone. Let's make 2025 a good year for online learning in higher education!
It would be good if conversations around widening access to #HigherEd in the UK included the genuinely game changing possibilities opened up by online and distance learning, as a new generation of school leavers is not troubled by online or mixed-mode learning. #LTHE #EdTech
The funding crisis across UK universities risks sidelining “tough decisions” around widening access, a conference marking the launch of the World Access to Higher Education Network heard. Juliette Rowsell reports
bit.ly/3VznFdf
bit.ly/3VznFdf
University funding challenges imperil widening access efforts
Event hears that cold spots in provision must still be addressed
bit.ly
December 16, 2024 at 9:15 AM
I keep reading about "AI"-powered mind map generators, and while I kind of admire the technical achievement it really underlines the mismatch between this sort of #edtech and, you know, actual *learning*. It is in the individual's own creation of a mind map that learning happens. That's the point!
December 12, 2024 at 8:24 AM
I keep reading about "AI"-powered mind map generators, and while I kind of admire the technical achievement it really underlines the mismatch between this sort of #edtech and, you know, actual *learning*. It is in the individual's own creation of a mind map that learning happens. That's the point!
Quite the analogy here 🫢, but there's a parallel between how publishers have come to treat book authors and how #highered institutions have come to treat the authors of their critical #onlinelearning content. In both cases an ongoing relationship can be much more rewarding for both parties.
Opinion: Why are academic authors treated as disposably as sperm donors?
Publishers used to recognise that theirs was a relationships business. But now the road to immortality is much lonelier, says Adrian Furnham
#EduSky #AcademicSky #Highered
Publishers used to recognise that theirs was a relationships business. But now the road to immortality is much lonelier, says Adrian Furnham
#EduSky #AcademicSky #Highered
Why are academic authors treated as disposably as sperm donors?
Publishers used to recognise that theirs was a relationships business. But now the road to immortality is much lonelier, says Adrian Furnham
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 5, 2024 at 10:11 AM
Quite the analogy here 🫢, but there's a parallel between how publishers have come to treat book authors and how #highered institutions have come to treat the authors of their critical #onlinelearning content. In both cases an ongoing relationship can be much more rewarding for both parties.
Reposted by Duncan at CAPDM
Over at the #OpenScot blog, @joecar80.bsky.social and I have been starting to think about the Draft Dubai Declaration on OER and whether it might prompt the education sector in Scotland to reconsider the benefits and affordances of #OER openscot.net/oer/draft-du...
Draft Dubai Declaration on OER
The 3rd UNESCO World OER Congress took place in Dubai last week. The previous two congresses, held in Paris in 2012, and Ljubljana in 2017, resulted in the Paris OER Declaration and the Ljubljana …
openscot.net
December 3, 2024 at 10:39 AM
Over at the #OpenScot blog, @joecar80.bsky.social and I have been starting to think about the Draft Dubai Declaration on OER and whether it might prompt the education sector in Scotland to reconsider the benefits and affordances of #OER openscot.net/oer/draft-du...
As MD of a company which supplies services to universities I of course agree with this, but it's critical that universities themselves continue to own and run their core functions. In my experience too many unis focus on control of the inconsequential bits and relinquish it over their core business.
Embrace outsourcing and consider sharing courses too, says v-c
Universities should no longer give the ‘cold shoulder’ to businesses that can potentially perform functions more effectively, says Ken Sloan
#AcademicSky #Highered
Universities should no longer give the ‘cold shoulder’ to businesses that can potentially perform functions more effectively, says Ken Sloan
#AcademicSky #Highered
Embrace outsourcing and consider sharing courses too, says v-c
Universities should no longer give the ‘cold shoulder’ to businesses who can potentially perform functions more effectively, says Ken Sloan
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 3, 2024 at 10:59 AM
As MD of a company which supplies services to universities I of course agree with this, but it's critical that universities themselves continue to own and run their core functions. In my experience too many unis focus on control of the inconsequential bits and relinquish it over their core business.
Interesting conversation recently with a potential customer in the UK charity sector looking to set up a learning portal. Various chats and demos later they decided to go in a different direction - absolutely fine, of course, our solutions aren't for everyone - but the logic fascinated me. [1/5]
December 2, 2024 at 11:13 AM
Interesting conversation recently with a potential customer in the UK charity sector looking to set up a learning portal. Various chats and demos later they decided to go in a different direction - absolutely fine, of course, our solutions aren't for everyone - but the logic fascinated me. [1/5]
A great example of the limitations of large language models. Remarkable how much additional prompting was needed for both LLMs to actually report back the obvious truth.
November 30, 2024 at 1:29 PM
A great example of the limitations of large language models. Remarkable how much additional prompting was needed for both LLMs to actually report back the obvious truth.
Hearing #Moodle is having a Black Friday special where it's completely free to download and deploy all day. Absolutely no charge for a complete, world-class learning management system, plus no ongoing subscription charges, nothing. Incredible deal. 😉
November 29, 2024 at 4:27 PM
Hearing #Moodle is having a Black Friday special where it's completely free to download and deploy all day. Absolutely no charge for a complete, world-class learning management system, plus no ongoing subscription charges, nothing. Incredible deal. 😉
This looks to be aimed at corporate learning but a substantial amount of this could also apply to #HigherEd and #FurtherEd accredited online learning courses too.
November 28, 2024 at 12:35 PM
This looks to be aimed at corporate learning but a substantial amount of this could also apply to #HigherEd and #FurtherEd accredited online learning courses too.
Reposted by Duncan at CAPDM
A lot of #HigherEd institutions turn their noses up at #Moodle because of old assumptions about how it looks and works. Truth is you can do incredibly slick things with it these days, and you don't have to get locked in to an exploitative ecosystem to do them. Open source #EdTech is good, actually.
November 27, 2024 at 6:59 PM