Ulrich Rauch (University of Trinidad and Tobago)

Like many working in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, Ulrich does not come from a computing science background but moved sideways into the field of integrated technologies. His education is in Sociology, and it is his interest in teaching, learning and research into digital learning technologies that got him interested in instructional support, e-learning and all aspects of Information Technology. He also admits to have a weakness for tinkering with computer hardware, a skill that has helped him as a graduate student to make a living and has prepared him for an understanding of computer technology in general.

Prior to his appointment at the University of Trinidad & Tobago, Ulrich has been the Director for Instructional Support and Information Technology in the Faculty of Arts, at UBC, and he participated in a number of exciting international open source developments on learning technologies, such as Pachyderm, a web-based media authoring system, the Sakai project, a collaborative platform for teaching and learning, and most recently the development of virtual and immersive 3D learning environments, such as Ancient Spaces or the Arts Metaverse (based on Croquet).

Ulrich's responsibilities at UTT include the administration and management of the newly founded Learning Centre. The Centre is in part virtual and extends to multiple campuses, providing instructional support and promoting information literacy to students, staff and instructors. Ulrich graduated with a Ph.D in Sociology from UBC in 1996. In 2005 he was the first Canadian to become a fellow of the Frye Leadership Institute.