Keith Smyth

Keith Smyth serves as Professor and Dean of Learning and Teaching at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), where he leads the university-wide Learning and Teaching Academy. He drives strategic educational developments, manages funded projects, and supports staff engagement in pedagogic research across the institution.

His research expertise centers on co-creative pedagogies, open education frameworks, and technology-enhanced learning environments. He specializes in digital transformation of higher education, curriculum innovation, and evidence-based academic development with strong emphasis on inclusivity and widening participation. His work bridges policy implementation with practical teaching methodologies to address contemporary educational challenges.

Analysis of his 2019-2024 publications reveals consistent focus on digital university ecosystems, examining intersections of policy, pedagogy and practice. Key themes include heutagogical approaches in online education, spatial design for hybrid learning, research-teaching nexus implementation, and digital citizenship in populist contexts. His scholarship demonstrates progressive evolution toward practical frameworks for technology-mediated educational transformation.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Prestigious Teaching Award (2024)

Smyth actively supervises PhD candidates and has secured significant funding from major educational bodies including the Higher Education Academy, Jisc, Scottish Funding Council, Ministry of Defence, and NHS. His grant portfolio demonstrates sustained impact in educational research and development across national and international contexts.

As leader of UHI's Learning and Teaching Academy, he directs institutional strategy for educational excellence, fostering collaborative networks among academic staff to advance pedagogic innovation and scholarship across the university's distributed campus system.