SEDA Workshop: Supporting Programme Leaders and Programme Leadership

Thursday 11 April 2019

University of Birmingham

This workshop is aimed at programme leaders interested in development opportunities and covers  a range of areas including:

  • How to better frame and define the role
  • Academic leadership
  • Programme level assessment
  • A year in the life of a programme assessor

Find out full details, including how to book your place  on the SEDA Website

Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching: Pedagogy and Knowledge Production conference

9-10 April, 2019, hosted by Keele University

“The future and end of interdisciplinarity. What is implied when we aim for more robust interdisciplinary insights?” presented by Dr. Machiel Keestra has been confirmed as the Keynote talk for the  Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching: Pedagogy and Knowledge Production conference.

Machiel Keestra is assistant professor (UD) at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Amsterdam. He studied philosophy and psychology in Amsterdam and Heidelberg (Germany) and his PhD thesis Sculpting the Space of Actions. Since 2010 Dr. Keestra has been the elected board member of the US based Association for Interdisciplinary Studies and their President from 2014-16. In addition he has been on the strategic board of the 2017 and 2019 International Transdisciplinarity Conferences and is co-chair of the Association for Interdisciplinary Studies conference in Amsterdam, October 24-26th 2019 (http://aisconference2019.nl/).

Registration is open until the 29th of March at a very reasonable £60 for the full conference. The draft programme of speakers is now available from the website, https://www.keele.ac.uk/ilas/conferences/interdisciplinarylearningandteachingconference/.

the parent HUB

Newcastle University Peer Mentoring is proud to launch the parent HUB.

This hub is aimed for all students who are parents, foster carers, adoptive parents, or about to become parents, regardless of age, gender or sexuality.

The free online hub allows you to share experiences, ask questions and be part of a parenting community within the university. There will be trained university wide peer mentors as part of the network to offer one-to-one support and guidance, as well as answer any question in the discussion board.

The hub will be based on Microsoft Teams and is an excellent source of advice and support from like-minded, empathetic and patient peers.

There will be a schedule of face-to-face activities for you to meet up with other parents, ask questions, have a chat, share your experiences and support you through the balance of being a student and a parent. And for those of you unable to attend these, there will also be a range of ZOOM online conference activities to allow you to meet new parents and be able to engage in conversation as though you were in the same room from the comfort of your own home.

The parent hub will also allow you to share, lend, borrow, give, donate, sell, and buy those much needed pieces of equipment and clothing via the online discussion group.

The files section of the hub will allow the University to share useful information and documents with you – as well as members of the network being able to upload documents as well.

There will be the opportunity to share your experiences of child-friendly shops, restaurants, taxi companies, as well as provide some top tips of baby-changing facilities in the University and city, and baby feeding friendly places.

To join the parent HUB please email Tony Chapman-Wilson at peer.mentoring@newcastle.ac.uk now.

There will be the official launch of the parent HUB at an activity event on Wednesday 17 April 2019 between 11am and 2pm. This will take place in the Lindisfarne Room in the Hadrian’s Building opposite the Bedson Building and Boiler Room.

There will be refreshments and activities for the children, as well as the opportunity for you to meet other parents. There will be a child feeding room available, as well as the opportunity to speak to members of the University Peer Mentoring scheme and Student Health and Wellbeing Services.

Come along at any point during the event and sign up for the parent HUB on the day as well.

Call for Papers: Enhancing Student Learning Through Innovative Scholarship Conference 2019

Active Learning for All

18-19 July, Edinburgh Napier University

The call for papers is now open and contributions are welcome for the following sessions:

  • Talks (20 mins (15 + 5 mins for questions))
  • Snapshots (5 mins)
  • Workshop (90 mins)

The theme incorporates a number of activities including:

  • Team Based Learning
  • Problem Based Learning
  • Project Based Learning
  • Playful Learning
  • Simulation & Role Play Based Learning

The deadline for submissions is 10 April 2019 and you can find full information on the conference website. 

3 Rivers Regional Learning and Teaching Conference 2019

‘Embedding Student and Staff Well-Being in the  Curriculum’

Calman Learning Centre, Durham University
10 September 2019

The call for papers and registration for the 2019 3 Rivers Regional learning and teaching conference is now open.

Building upon the success of previous partnership events held by the region’s Universities (Teesside, Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland and Northumbria), our theme for 2019 is ‘Embedding Student and Staff Well-Being in the  Curriculum’.

Contributions are welcomed on this and any other learning and teaching initiatives in higher-education in the format of either a 15 minute talk or a Show a Tell, where you can demonstrate a new learning and teaching initiative over coffee to the delegates. The event will be hosted by Durham’s Centre for Academic Development in the Calman Learning Centre.

Further details on the conference, including the keynote, registration and submitting a presentation proposal are available via the conference website here https://3riversnortheast.wordpress.com/

Note the call for papers closes on 15th March 2019 at 1pm, and registration will close on 19th April 2019. If you have any further queries or questions, please contact acad.dev@durham.ac.uk

Inclusive Practice Network annual conference 2019 Inclusive assessment: innovations in practice

Thursday 6 June 2019, University of Bath
Call for Papers now open

If you have an idea for an interactive workshop  submit your abstract by the 31 January 2019.

Examples topics include:

  • Student choice in assessment
  • Providing alternative assessments
  • Quality assurance and equivalency
  • Allowing extra time in exams for all students
  • Administration of examination innovations
  • Innovating mitigating circumstances processes

Your abstract should include:

  • A short title of no more than 20 words.
  • The name and contact details for the lead presenter and name of any co-presenters
  • A clear statement of the topic of your session will develop participants’ understanding, skills and knowledge through discussion, practice or activity.
  • An outline of the proposed schedule of the session. Each workshop will last for 1 hour 15 minutes.

Please return these details to mike@inclusioninhe.com

Advance HE Subject Networks Engagement Events

Advance HE are holding a series of engagement events to help shape the way they can support Subject Networks, a method of sharing ideas and best practice . These are being developed as a result of a recent consultation and Advance HE are hoping to engage with staff from a range of institutions to ensure that they meet the needs of modern day HE.

As we are an institutional member of Advance HE, attendance at these events is free for Newcastle University staff.

Please find details of the events below. The links will take you directly to the Advance HE booking page: Continue reading “Advance HE Subject Networks Engagement Events”

British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR): Student Blog Post

By  BA Hons Philosophy student

Applying for the British Conference of Undergraduate Research was on of the best things I have done in my university life. The process was surprisingly simple, despite what I first thought.

I heard of the scholarship from a lecture, I wrote my abstract and many members of staff were willing to help me edit it for the application. The abstract was accepted by the scholarship and they provided me with a lot of support to refine it before my BCUR application. All of the help of the Scholarship committee and my lectures set me up for the application well, and because of their support I was invited to the conference. Continue reading “British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR): Student Blog Post”

Advance HE: Teaching and Learning Conference

The theme of the 2019 Advance HE  Teaching and Learning Conference  is Innovation for Teaching Excellence and papers that cover the following themes are welcomed:

  • Interdisciplinary or multi-disciplinary innovation in teaching and learning practice
  • Innovation in inclusive curricula
  • Innovation in blended and immersive teaching and learning practice
  • Innovative practice that aids transition and retention
  • Innovation practice to support employability
  • Innovative practice to enhance assessment and feedback

Call for papers now open

The deadline for submissions is 7 January 2019.

Event details

Conference theme:

2-4 July 2019

Day One: Arts and Humanities, Health and Social Care

Day Two: Thematic/interdisciplinary

Day Three: STEM, Social Sciences

Find out more on the Advance HE website

National Teaching Fellowship / Collaborative Awards for Teaching Excellence 2019

The Higher Education Academy’s National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) celebrates excellent practice and outstanding achievement in learning and teaching in higher education. The awards support individuals’ professional development in learning and teaching and provides a national focus for institutional teaching and learning excellence schemes.

The Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence Awards recognising outstanding collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching.

More details about the scheme can be found on the HEA’s website.

We are pleased to announce the launch of the University process to determine the institutional nominees to the 2019 National Teaching Fellowship Scheme / Collaborative Awards for Teaching Excellence scheme.

Application to be an institutional nominee

Nominations are welcomed from all members of staff who feel their work has a major, positive impact on student teaching and learning. Staff who would like to be considered should provide a maximum of 1000 words which address the following criteria.

    • Your personal practice and why this should be recognised as outstanding,
    • Your impact on colleagues, both internally and externally,
    • Your reflection on the above.

Nominations should be sent electronically to ltds@ncl.ac.uk by 12 noon on Friday the 9th of November 2018.

LTDS has developed a workshop that outlines the scheme and helps you consider whether you are ready to apply for the National Teaching Fellowship scheme. The workshop will take place on 17 October 2018, 12:30- 1:30 pm. Book your place now.

View the LTDS website for more information.