Introducing CATO

CATO: Creative Arts Teaching Online 

We invite you to participate in CATO hosted by Falmouth University BA Illustration Online. CATO is a new initiative exploring the design of online modules for Higher Education courses. CATO will provide a forum for research, learning, and sharing experiences as practitioners and academics in building and teaching these degrees. 

Fully online study has been identified as a growth area with huge potential for the UK HE sector. It not only captures larger and international markets but also offers flexibility that significantly widens access to higher education. 

As an early adopter in the online degree market, Falmouth University pioneered fully online BAs and MAs in creative subjects—programmes well underway before the pandemic forced many institutions to transfer campus courses online at short notice. Falmouth now offers 14 fully online degrees, ranging from Fine Art to Creative Writing to Illustration.

CATO will be launched through a series of lunchtime symposia in May 2026 and supported through this blog. The symposia will be relevant to all creative HE subjects, particularly those with an industry connection or a commitment to supporting students in both academic development and professionalisation.

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CATO is led by Shefali Wardell and Dr Jessica Jenkins

Shefali Wardell is Course Leader for the BA Illustration Online and Research Supervisor for the MA Illustration Online at Falmouth University. She has worked with Falmouth Online since 2020, having attained her first HE role in 2011. She is a drawing artist, writer and publisher and had her first illustration commission in 1997. Current work and research revolves around plant drawing, printing and her publishing company. She has worked extensively with public and community artist, as well as production roles. 

Dr Jessica Jenkins has fifteen years of HE teaching experience and is Deputy Course Leader for the BA Illustration Online at Falmouth University. She was one of the core team building the online course and continuously works on the content and delivery to address the needs of online students. Previously she was Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design at Falmouth responsible for history and theory teaching, and prior to that Head of Graphic Design at the German University in Cairo. Jessica was a pioneer in online creative arts teaching, writing and delivering the online design module for the innovative Interactive Multimedia MA at Bath Spa University from 2000–2005. In her earlier career she was a graphic designer and illustrator. She holds a PhD in Design History from the Royal College of Art and has published widely on design historical issues. Jessica is passionate about sustainable social justice and facilitating access to Higher Education.

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