The University of Warwick, one of the most innovative universities in terms of social software usage and social networking prowess, has been producing short video news items and putting them on YouTube. The video above, discussing the phenomenon of Chinese support for the England football team, is one of the many which focus on research outcomes, current affairs analysis and campus events.
It is not a mere marketing tool, points out Alice Lau, from the University of Glamorgan's Learning Zone:
The aim of the project despite what everyone might think, is more than just advertising. To them, it is about communicating the research work in the university to the wider community in a very different way. It also provided a new channel for researchers to reach new people.
Warwick's iCast has high quality production values, suggesting a concerted and deliberate effort to put these bulletins out. While NUS may not choose to go this way to promote its research (although, in my personal capacity, I don't see why not), I think it trailblazes a way for individual lecturers to innovate in their teaching and personal branding.
Now, where is that camcorder...?