Teaching and Learning Conference
This year’s Teaching and Learning Conference is on Wednesday 13 September. It will focus on how to build an academic community; asking the questions:
- How do we engage all of our students to ensure they get the most out of their time spent studying at Huddersfield and make sure they all feel they are part of a large and supportive academic community?
- How do we identify and support those students who are at risk of leaving, tackle differential achievement and non-participation, and ensure students are aware of the support that is available to them and encourage them to seek help when it is needed?
Approximately 50% of students at Huddersfield are ‘commuter students’; a diverse ‘group’ of students who face specific challenges. Our keynote will be delivered by Professor Liz Thomas who has undertaken research on commuter students, those who live away from the university or college and travel to attend. Liz is an independent researcher and consultant for higher education and Professor of Higher Education at Edge Hill University. She has nearly twenty years’ experience of undertaking and managing research about widening participation, student retention and success and institutional approaches to improving the student experience.
The conference will draw together exciting work from across the university with workshops and presentations showcasing initiatives which aim to engage and support our students; including
- enhancing the student experience and engaging with the course rep system
- improving achievement by engaging students’ with their feedback and by using differentiated and active learning
- engaging and developing students through enterprise, multidisciplinary initiatives and community partnerships.
The afternoon sessions are flexible, allowing each school to focus on their specific teaching and student support priorities for the coming year. We will finish the day with a plenary at which students share their thoughts on the event. And a graphic facilitator will summarise the conversations captured during the day. We hope you will be able to join us to hear the ideas of colleagues and share your experiences and enthusiasm so together staff and students can build an inclusive academic community.
The Conference is open to all staff of the University but especially relevant to academic staff, student support staff and those in academic-related roles. Please complete the booking form to reserve your place. You will need to take a look at the session abstracts to decide which sessions to choose.