Podcast Praxis

Podcast Praxis was a British Council-funded partnership between Birmingham City University and Jagran Lakecity University (JLU) in Bhopal, India. The project explored podcasting as an alternative assessment tool for online and distance learning — asking whether oral, student-produced podcast content could provide an alternative to more traditional written submissions, while trying to address the growing problem of AI-generated academic work.

The project was funded through the British Council's Going Global Partnerships scheme, under the Online Distance and Digitally Delivered Learning (ODDL) programme from April to September, 2025.

The Project

Over a 5 week period, a series of online and in-person teaching sessions introduced JLU media students to podcast production; covering recording technique, editorial structure, and reflective practice. Students then produced original podcast content as an assessed activity, orally reflecting on their learning and production work.

Ten professional audio recording units were purchased and delivered to JLU for the project, and have since been made available for ongoing student use. Course materials were produced bilingually in English and Hindi, and a formal online module, with 12 enrolled students, was developed and certificated as a pilot for future delivery. The students received detailed feedback, grades, and a final certificate for completing the course.

Findings from the project were presented at the 3rd International Conference on Teaching and Education, Oxford, in October 2025, and a paper is forthcoming for publication. A related chapter, "Podcasting as a Tool for Internationalisation," appears in Podcasting and Education Concepts, Communities and Case Studies (Focal Press / Routledge, 2025).

A guest lecture was also delivered at the Shrewsbury International School India, Bhopal, during the in-person visit.

Principal Investigator (BCU) Dr Sam Coley, Course Director MA Media Production

Principal Investigator (JLU )Prof. Diwakar Shukla

Co-Investigator (BCU) Dr Siobhan Stevenson

Co-Investigator (JLU) Dr Sanyukta Karve

Funder British Council — Going Global Partnerships (ODDL)

Partner institution - Jagran Lakecity University, Bhopal, India