Day two showcase - International Enhancement Conference

QAA Scotland’s online International Enhancement Conference, ‘Learning from disruption: Exploring what counts in higher education’, starts on Wednesday 3 June 2020.

Connecting contributors and delegates from around the world, the event will explore how higher education is likely to change, both as a result of the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic and to meet future challenges. If you have yet to register, spaces are limited and we encourage you to visit our event booking website now to secure your place.

With a fantastic programme of activity planned across two days, we want to take this opportunity to highlight what’s in store on Day Two. On 4 June 2020, panellists will reflect on the curriculum, learning and teaching practice, student engagement in a time of disruption and how we will shape higher education for the future.

KEYNOTE

We are excited to open Day Two with a recorded keynote presentation from Professor Sally Kift (President, Australian Learning and Teaching Fellows). This will be followed by a Q&A session, with Professor Kift joining us live from Australia. Recipient of the 2017 Australian University Career Achievement Award for her contribution to Australian higher education, Professor Kift will consider the promise of a connected educational ecosystem, drawing on her chapter ‘Employability and Higher Education’ from the edited collection Education for Employability (Higgs, Crisp and Letts [eds.], 2019). Find out more about Professor Kift.

As well as live streaming Professor Kift’s presentation on 4 June, you can also engage with this supporting resource now via our conference webpages.

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

We will also host two live panel discussions. The first panel, made up of student representatives from four Scottish institutions, will consider student experience in a time of crisis and the ways that the sector’s swift pivot to online delivery is impacting student voice and engagement - both now and in the future. Drawing on their experiences and knowledge of the sector, this panel will explore the central role of student voice as higher education institutions take forward plans for the next academic session and beyond.

The second panel debate will then consider wellbeing, inclusion and kindness, and how best to create communities of learners after COVID-19. Featuring panellists from institutions in Australia, USA and the UK, the session promises a truly global reflection on the role of educators during a period of disruption and how best to support learners at a distance.

Dr Petrea Redmond (University of Southern Queensland) and Sean Michael Morris (University of Colorado) have each provided supporting resources for this panel discussion. We recommend that delegates engage with both resources prior to joining this session.

Dr Heather Gray (Glasgow Caledonian University) leads the Student Mental Wellbeing Collaborative Cluster as part of the current Enhancement Theme: Evidence for Enhancement. Delegates are also encouraged to read about the work of this collaborative cluster ahead of the panel discussion.

NEW RESOURCES

Every live session at the International Enhancement Conference will be accompanied by new resources, designed for asynchronous engagement. Day Two will see the launch of new digital resources that have been provided by contributors, who featured on the original in-person conference programme. These digital resources cover a breadth of topics, including the development of effective feedback and processes for students, and a transitions toolkit to support pre-arrival student reflection.

In addition, we will also draw on learning from the current Enhancement Theme, selecting and sharing a number of practical resources – including an updated Responding to Student Voice resource pack – that can help support the sector during this time of disruption.

We are very excited to offer this modular programme of live and recorded presentations, enriched by new asynchronous resources, which we believe will be of great value to colleagues working at all levels within higher education.