Joe's Journey: Exploring the digital future of higher education
Joe Noteboom’s interest in understanding the social and ethical implications of digital technologies in higher education stems from over a decade of experience in academia. Having worked as a teacher, researcher, and administrator across universities worldwide, he has witnessed how digital platforms and data have become central to academic life.
“Digital technology is often presented as a solution to the challenges facing universities and communities, its use is inherently political and interacts with political and economic pressures on universities and students in ways that are sometimes problematic.”
Joe’s research, conducted during a period of extraordinary technological and societal change, delves into these complexities. Starting his PhD amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Joe observed firsthand how universities rapidly adopted digital tools to sustain education. This experience, coupled with the recent surge in interest around generative AI, shaped his exploration into how UK university students’ lives are entwined with digital platforms and data—and how institutions might better support students’ agency in this digital age.
Reflecting on his PhD journey, Joe says, “Finishing my thesis and passing my viva are moments I’m incredibly proud of. The writing process wasn’t always easy, but it was rewarding and made me more confident in my abilities as a researcher.” Beyond his research, Joe continued to contribute to the university community, finding balance between academic achievements and meaningful engagement.
Joe credits the Centre for Technomoral Futures as a key source of support throughout his PhD. "The Centre provided not just financial resources but an incredible community. The reading groups, work-in-progress sessions, and events have been a source of valuable input and friendship that strengthened my research and made the experience more enjoyable." With the Centre’s backing, Joe attended conferences in digital education and critical data studies, where he shared his work and connected with other researchers. This year Joe looks forward to graduating and has taken up a post within Edinburgh Futures Institute as a Senior Learning Technology and Design Adviser, supporting the development and delivery of the Institute’s educational programmes. He continues to publish and remains an active member of the CTMF community whilst he explores postdoc opportunities.
Joe’s story is testament to the transformative power of collaborative research and community support in addressing the challenges of a rapidly evolving digital world. His work is paving the way for more considered and ethical approaches to technology in higher education and we wish him every success for the future.