In this Spotlight, we focus on Charles Czalej, a Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Administrator. Charles tells us about a typical day in the TEL team, what motivates him, and why, if he could switch roles with anyone for a week, it would be with film director James Cameron.
Hi Charles, tell us about your role – what does a typical day look like for you?
I work within the Technology Enhanced Learning team. Whilst I specialise in E-portfolio support, I also have plenty of opportunities to get involved with a variety of projects and learning software.
A typical day varies greatly depending on the time of year and what our TEL team is currently up to, but personally, I find that very refreshing. What I can most often expect from a usual day is figuring out and working on bespoke data requests, liaising with different teams or trust sites regarding the technical side of medical placements, and working on projects. The last bit can look quite different for any team working within the University, and I wanted to expand on how we approach projects.
Our main focus as a team is improvements to teaching and learning, and we hope to help others utilise available technology in a way that makes their work easier. However, what we find easy is not always the case for others – we all have our specialities after all. As a result, part of my days often result in impromptu brainstorming sessions with my colleagues on little ways we can make improvements. That collaboration is definitely up there in terms of my favourite parts of the week, making not just my work easier, but my relationship with my colleagues closer. Currently, I am focusing on the Copilot trial, particularly in relation to medical placement data that we then distribute to other teams for review and to flag issues/space for improvements.
What first drew you to work in this field / at the University?
A big part of the draw for me was being a University of Liverpool alumnus. My story was pretty similar to what many of our students experience – arrive in Liverpool, instantly feel welcomed by the city, and decide to stay after graduation. I worked in the private sector for a few years, but I struggled to find personal fulfilment. I thought back on my days in the vibrant campus community and the support I received throughout my degree. I decided that bringing that same feeling of belonging to current undergraduates could not just be another job to do, but something that brings me a lot of joy. Now, nearly three years into my role, I can very happily say that my role, team, and the excellent students at the School of Medicine are exactly what I was hoping for.
What project or achievement are you most proud of so far?
In the grand scheme of things, it was not anything major, but as someone in a role that wasn’t usually student-facing, receiving a Student Experience Award meant a lot to me. The times I have met with students for support, I have always ensured to clear my calendar, fully focus on them, and be there for them, not only as a staff member but as a person who is happy to listen to any of their worries. Students always appreciated this, but getting recognised for it publicly was both surprising and incredibly rewarding.
What’s the most surprising or unexpected part of your job?
It is definitely a pleasantly unexpected aspect of my role – the amount of collaboration and interaction with all manner of teams across the University and Trusts. The overall TEL community is very open to networking. I interact with NHS trusts daily for E-portfolio support, and projects ensure that I often work alongside clinicians, offering technical support and expertise. All of this makes my role feel exciting and new despite being a few years into it.
What’s one challenge you’ve faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?
I find that often the biggest challenges are external, rather than specific to a role. I did not manage to secure a graduate scheme quickly enough before Covid hit, and after lockdown, I knew I would not have much luck after such a long break from engineering. Things like that are not in my control, and overcoming them is all about perspective. I simply kept going. You can start a career at any point in your life, and your degree does not dictate the rest of it. I briefly dipped into sales roles while I was looking for something more suitable, eventually ending up in TEL – a role that is both about helping others and working with technology, one that I am very happy with. I would not be working here now if I did not keep my mind open to all sorts of possibilities, and that mindset is something that I find most helpful when life throws curveballs at me.
What inspires or motivates you outside of work? (e.g. hobbies, causes, family, travel, volunteering)
Spending time in nature – I love fishing, foraging, and hiking. I would love to volunteer with the Cheshire Wildlife Trust, but that would be a tad difficult without a car. I am saving that one for future motivation.
If you could switch roles with someone else for a week, who would it be and why?
A very niche answer, but probably James Cameron! I am very passionate about the environment and nature, and he is one of the few people who can do deep-sea exploration. Taking the Deepsea Challenger for a spin would be a dream.
What’s a fun fact about you that your colleagues might not know?
I did quite an unusual sport around college – air rifle shooting, the kind that you see as part of pentathlons. It was recreational, so I did not get very far, but I did get a silver in regionals in clay pigeon.