Conferences and Events

The annual Learning and Teaching conference forms an important part of Learning and Teaching related Continuing Professional Development (CPD) at the University. It provides a valuable opportunity for colleagues to share teaching and assessment practices, experiences and innovations in a supportive and very friendly environment. With a relevant theme each year, the conference promotes the sharing of good practice, the discussion of pedagogic research and scholarship, and the showcasing of innovative teaching and learning activities. It is always an enjoyable, stimulating and rewarding day.

The annual programme leader symposium unites programme leaders from across the university and UK partner organisations, offering opportunities to share good practice and network.

The day always includes round table discussions enabling programme leaders to discuss challenges and share solutions, as well as a workshop to support programme leaders in their role (e.g. coaching conversations; developing negotiating skills; leadership of curriculum design).

Discussions of key topics such as student mental health and wellbeing; the Teaching Excellence Framework; increases in International student numbers; enable programme leaders to consider sector-wide issues as well as contextualising developments within their own context.

Emphasis is placed on exploring, promoting and discussing issues that emanate from the day to day practices of programme leaders and the  symposium helps them to work as a community, positively enhancing the student experience, and leading change at the programme level.

The BEST Student Success conference brings together people working to create Belonging, strengthen Engagement, empower Students and support Transitions.  The conference welcomes anyone supporting students to be successful in their academic journey, including academic, professional, technical and research staff.  The conference provides the opportunity to share ideas, challenged and best practice within our student-focussed community.  Attendees have the opportunity to expand their professional development and networking with a focus on Transitions, Community & Belonging, Student Engagement and Partnership & Collaboration.

During Digital Skills Week our community take ownership of their digital journey and develop new digital skills and confidence. The week runs in March each year and provides the opportunity to explore, learn and develop digital skills, that help our community to excel in their course and career with a wider understanding of what is involved in the digital world we live in. There are sessions from students, staff, alumni and industry experts such as Adobe, LinkedIn Learning and Jisc sharing their digital innovations, best practice and what digital skills employers look for from graduates.

The Hertfordshire Higher Education Consortium Colleges Learning and Teaching conference is held once a year at the University. It brings together colleagues from all four colleges in the consortium that teach on higher education programmes including Foundation Degrees, Extended Degrees and Higher National qualifications.  The conference provides an opportunity for cross college teams to share good practice and to build connection with peers across the consortium. The presenters are a mix of university and college staff. It is an informal and friendly event that allows consortium staff to network with colleagues at the University and partner institutions.

Our Assessment Experts Group host an annual Assessment Symposium, ahead of the start of the new academic year, to share work and good practice, inspiring the development of innovative practice in the year ahead. Previous, we have focused on how we might rethink assessment in the current climate, to think about both how we can help students who have been referred for academic integrity skills support, and how we as an academic community would like to embrace and develop the ethical use of artificial intelligence tools in our work.

The inaugural Academic Skills Conference will take place in May 2025. This will provide an opportunity for colleagues to share practices and experiences from Academic Skills work in a friendly and collaborative environment. Colleagues with any interest in Academic Skills will be encouraged to share pedagogical research and scholarship, as well as showcase good practice. We are confident that it will be a rewarding day.