Chris Lane on Innovation, Community and the Future of Computing at London Met

Chris Lane, Head of the School of Computing and Digital Media at London Metropolitan University, describes his role as deeply rewarding. “When you work in a teaching situation, you’re helping people to fulfil their potential,” he says. “Every year, I see a new group of students who are absolutely amazing and brilliant, and we help them on their journey to achieve their dreams.”

For Chris, watching students grow in confidence and ability is the most fulfilling part of his work

What Makes London Met Unique?

London Met’s Holloway and Aldgate campuses are easy to reach by public transport.

London Met has been recognised as the top university in the UK for value added, a measure of how far students progress from their entry qualifications to their final achievements. “We’re number one in the country for how far our students travel academically,” Chris explains.

He credits the university’s success to the dedication of its staff. “Our lecturers, researchers, and support teams genuinely care about helping students achieve their potential,” he says. “It’s a supportive culture, and that combination of talent and care helps students go far.”

How London Met Supports International Students

With students from across the world, Chris emphasises that London Met treats everyone equally—whether they come from nearby or from 12,000 miles away. “We always listen to our students and shape the programmes around their needs,” he says.

Students from all backgrounds thrive at London Met.

To help new arrivals settle in, Chris personally leads walking tours around iconic landmarks in London. “We want everyone to feel that they belong here,” he adds. “Education isn’t just about filling an empty vessel with knowledge. It’s about collaboration between lecturers and students from many different cultures.”

Studying in the Heart of London

Located near Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, the School of Computing and Digital Media sits in one of the most vibrant and connected areas of the city. “We’re just a few minutes from King’s Cross, which means you can get to central London, or even Paris, easily,” Chris says.

London’s King’s Cross Station was made famous by its appearance in the Harry Potter books.

The school’s location offers students proximity to one of the world’s most active tech and innovation hubs. “London attracts more investment for tech startups than anywhere except Silicon Valley,” he notes. “For computing and digital media students, there’s no better place to be.”

Learning from World-Leading Professors

At London Met, both undergraduate and postgraduate students work directly with internationally recognised professors. “Our lecturers are leading researchers in their fields,” Chris explains. “Students often collaborate with them on projects that involve cutting-edge technology and real-world applications.”

Preparing for the Future of Technology

Chris believes the coming years will bring enormous changes to the fields of computing and media. “Artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cryptography—all of these are transforming industries,” he says. “We prepare our students to work with these technologies and understand both their opportunities and risks.”

He highlights London Met’s research on protecting intellectual property in creative industries. “We’re developing systems that track ownership and safeguard creators’ work from AI misuse,” he explains. “It’s about making sure our students are ready for a changing world.”

Innovation and Collaboration in Action

One of Chris’s proudest moments was leading a collaborative project between students from digital media and electronics engineering. Together, they built a giant interactive floor that displayed digital footprints when walked on. “It was exhibited at the International Institute of Visual Arts in Hoxton,” Chris recalls. “It broke new ground internationally—and students were at the centre of it all.”

Watch the full video interview to hear more about how London Met prepares students for success in computing and digital media.