Annual report 2023–24

We continue our digital transformation, promoting greater understanding and ethical use of Gen AI in libraries and student education. We are working to establish a digital capabilities framework and support for students, and providing opportunities for colleagues and students to engage with digital humanities research.

Generative AI guidance (strategic priority 1)

Aligning with the University’s digital transformation strategy, we partnered with DES, Doctoral College and OD&PL to support students and staff to develop understanding of Generative AI:

• sponsored the inaugural Digital Summit in June 2024, focussing on Generative AI
• produced new guidance on using AI for academic skills development on the Libraries website
• supported and maintained the University’s Generative AI website
• partnered with IT services and DES to trial Microsoft CoPilot with colleagues.

New collaboration opportunities for digital humanities

We became members of DARIAH (Digital Research Infrastructure for the Arts and Humanities) this year, which opens up new collaboration opportunities for colleagues.

It enables us to extend our research strengths in digital humanities such as cultural heritage data, corpus linguistics, geospatial mapping and the ethics of AI and machine learning in the galleries, libraries, archives and museum sector.

Student case study: Digital Humanities: remixing cultural collections with digital and AI tools (strategic policy 3)

With funding from the University Alumni Footsteps Fund we have been able to support 10 undergraduate internships in the Digital Creativity and Cultures Hub (DCCH).

The students worked on library and cultural collections-based projects, conducting research in digital humanities and presenting their work to professional and academic colleagues.

Student scholarship gains global recognition

Undergraduate student Maia Hutton Mackay (Classics) presented work on digitising textile patterns into sounds at the 2024 International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) conference in Los Angeles, California, in June 2024. IIIF is a set of open standards that deliver high-quality digital objects online at scale. It’s also an international community, backed by a consortium of leading cultural institutions.

Maia and her internship project partner, Harith Ibrahim (Robotics and Mechatronics) digitised collections, experimenting with 3D scanning methods such as photogrammetry, Gaussian Splats and Photometric Stereo.

Their goal was to make heritage materials more accessible, not just in terms of global access through IIIF but also by providing innovative ways for people with visual impairments to experience the collection.

They developed a method to transform patterned fabrics into audible frequencies. This approach allows people to experience the patterns through sound, creating a multi-sensory representation of the textiles.

Our internship… has allowed us to explore the significance of historical artefacts, their properties and manufacturing techniques while applying modern scientific and computational methods for long-term preservation. By combining our diverse backgrounds, we’ve developed innovative solutions that make our cultural heritage more accessible and engaging for everyone.

Other internship projects

Lili Jaber (English) used AI-enabled autotranscription software to create transcripts of 18th and 19th Century manuscript recipes, turning these into a modern, interactive cookbook. She presented her work on the University of Leeds’s cookery collection, at an Open Lunch event 26 June.

Sam Yeung (Music Psychology) chose to explore digital AI methods working with two very different types of image recognition: identifying locations from images in the Bingley Photographic Collection, and automated recognition of early printed Chinese characters collections in the Chinese Collection.

Lillie Walker (Product Design) and Jiaye Wang (Music), worked on the Born in Bradford - Digital Makers project, developing digital skills training for school children in the Bradford area.

Amy Baker (French and Italian) and Lexi Zhong (Product Design), our Cultural Collections team worked with curatorial staff on digital ways of bringing the University’s Cultural Collections to life.

Madalena Teague (Art and Design) and Roseline Zhang (Architecture), worked with the Galleries team to open up the University’s art collections to migrant communities as part of the Welcoming Migrants Project.

Embedding digital capabilities for students

Developing digital capabilities is essential for students to take advantage of a digitally-enabled active learning experience. Digital skills support student success in their studies and future careers, and is a key part of the University’s Student Education strategy and Capabilities Framework.

Our digital learning advisors work with colleagues across faculties and professional services. This year they have:

• co-designed and embedded digital skills development for students within the curriculum
• provided drop-in sessions and an enquiries service
• 51 embedded sessions in six faculties
• developed and delivered a programme of co-curricular workshops, including using AI, video production and podcasting, 3D printing, digital identity and wellbeing
• rolled out the Jisc Digital Capabilities Framework tool allowing students to assess their skills and receive personalised resource suggestions
• 2, 408 students attended sessions.

Digital Library Infrastucture Project (DLIP) progress (strategic priority 4)

DLIP, our major technical infrastructure project, is on track to transform digital access to rare and unique materials for study and research. We have:

• adopted a linked data model (Linked Art) for cross-institutional digital exhibitions
• laid foundations for a new Repository Service to manage our cultural collections content with greater efficiency and security
• the proof of concept prototype was approved for the technical infrastructure of the new Cultural Collections website, providing search power and discovery functionality.

Improving research management services

The EDCIS: Ensuring Data Compliance, Insights and Sharing project is underway to:

• improve our research information system, Symplectic
• consilidate our three research data repositories into a single unified repository.

This will improve our processes across the University resulting in:

• easier use and better access to research information and data insights
• compliance with research funder requirements, including REF 2029.