Dr. David Parsons
As Research Director, Dave is responsible for ensuring that the academic staff at academyEX are active in research by supporting them to engage in projects relevant to their roles, and to share that research through channels such as articles, conferences, and public events. He also looks after the academyEX online library to ensure staff and students can access high-quality research resources. In his teaching role, he is a member of the Master of Contemporary Education team and Programme Lead for the PGCert in Digital and Collaborative Learning.
Dave’s long and varied career across higher education and the software industry in Europe and Australasia has given him a wealth of knowledge and experience. He’s a leading international researcher in technology-enhanced learning, the founding editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning, Adjunct Professor in the School of Educational Studies and Leadership at the University of Canterbury, and a Certified Member of the Association for Learning Technologies.
With a Master's degree in Computer Science and a PhD in Information technology, Dave has a strong technical background, but also has a passion for education, with a teaching qualification and a PG Cert in Learning Design, and has previously held senior academic roles at Southampton Solent University in the UK and Massey University and Unitec in New Zealand, as well as specialist contract roles with Software Education Associates and The Open Polytechnic.
Dave has a keen interest in research that brings together technology and learning, with a particular focus on the role of AI and digital technologies in education, agile and lean thinking, curriculum design, and contemporary software development. He has produced over 200 publications, including several authored and edited books, and has developed and delivered a range of courses including micro-credentials in digital skills and software development.
Academic achievements
Bachelor of Arts (University of Sussex)
Certificate in Education (University of Greenwich)
Postgraduate Certificate in Learning Design (Otago Polytechnic)
Master of Philosophy (University of Southampton)
PhD Information Technology (Nottingham Trent University)