Episode Details

👉 Discover how Cambridge Spark helps organisations build the data and AI capabilities needed to turn strategy into measurable impact: cambridgespark.com

On this week's episode of Data & AI Mastery, Mark Bramwell, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Oxford Said Business School, joins Dr Raoul-Gabriel Urma to share how one of the world's oldest universities is navigating one of its biggest challenges: deploying AI across a complex, multi-persona institution while simultaneously preparing students for an AI-driven workforce.

Mark unpacks Oxford's deliberate portfolio approach to AI tools, why they moved from per-user licensing to consumption-based models, and how they are measuring real business outcomes rather than treating AI as something categorically different from the rest of the tech stack.

From a faculty-led AI digital avatar teaching courses in any language, 24/7, to an AI assistant enhancing the MBA student experience, this conversation is grounded in genuine implementation rather than theory.

If you lead a complex organisation grappling with AI adoption, governance, and change management at scale, this episode is essential listening.

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Chapter Markers

(00:00) - Opening Insight: Treating AI Like Any Other Tool

(04:02) - Driving Innovation in a Centuries-Old Institution

(05:24) - Oxford's AI Strategy: The Portfolio Approach

(09:52) - Risks and Lessons Learned from the Consumption Model

(12:03) - Preparing Students for an AI-Driven Workforce

(17:44) - Governing AI Adoption at Scale

(22:58) - Change Adoption and Getting Everyone on the Journey

(25:51) - The Future of AI in Higher Education

(27:44) - Rapid-Fire Personal Questions

(30:06) - Raoul's Key Takeaways

Useful Links

Connect with Mark Bramwell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-bramwell-fbcs-308b4913/

Follow Raoul for more AI insights on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raoulurma/

Explore Cambridge Spark’s AI upskilling programmes at https://www.cambridgespark.com