The annual University of Edinburgh Learning and Teaching Conference brings together staff and students to celebrate and share good practice and innovation in learning and teaching. Image Learning and Teaching Conference 2025 ‘Transformative Assessment and Feedback'About the conference17 June, 2025, in-person at the Nucleus Building, King’s Buildings Campus Registration for University of Edinburgh Students and Staff – Opening 2 April 2025, 10am. Registration for external delegates – Opening 28 April 2025, 10am. Registration will close on Friday 31st May 2025.There are also online tickets available for those unable to attend in-person. Online delegates will be able to watch selected panels and talks via a streaming link on Teams. Register for the conference hereThe seventh annual University of Edinburgh Learning and Teaching Conference is organised around the theme: ‘Transformative assessment and feedback’. Engaging in transformative assessment and feedback practices shifts the paradigm from assessment and feedback as a one-way transmission model to a dynamic, ongoing process - one that is no longer something done to students, but something students actively engage with to deepen understanding, drive improvement, and continuously enhance their learning. The Conference will host over 60 sessions including keynote talks, short presentations, panel discussions, demonstrations, and posters. These sessions relate to one or more of the following sub-themes: Programme-level assessment Authentic assessment Assessment and feedback literacy (for educators and students) Compassionate assessment and feedback Co-creation and student voice Innovation and technological opportunities Inclusive assessment and feedback The Conference concludes with a drinks reception and networking opportunity. To contact the Conference Organising Team with any questions, please email lt.conference@ed.ac.uk Conference Programme Document Conference Schedule Overview (165.61 KB / PDF) The full conference programme will be available on this webpage at the end of April. For now, please refer to the Conference Overview Schedule for Conference timings and running order. Keynote speaker We are delighted to announce that this year’s Conference Keynote Speaker is Professor Tansy Jessop, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students, from the University of Bristol. Keynote Abstract: Student agency and engagement in assessment in a time of AI Evidence from TESTA shows that there are problems in the ‘grammar’ of assessment that get in the way of students exercising their agency and engaging deeply with tasks. Students often feel assessment is done to them, and fail to see its wider purpose and relevance, or to find space and time to take pride in their work. In this context, they may trade agency for the efficiency of AI. Drawing on theories of alienation and engagement, this interactive session will explore practical assessment and feedback ideas to use across programmes to nurture agency, foster curiosity, develop human skills, and surprisingly, enable students to have more fun. By focusing on authentic and relational dimensions of assessment and feedback across programmes, I will argue that we can find better ways to assess students than retreating into closed book exams. Tansy’s Biography Tansy Jessop is Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students at the University of Bristol, where she has led a programme of curriculum enhancement to re-imagine the design of programmes and assessment. Her experience of leading ‘Transforming the Experience of Students through Assessment’ (TESTA) is the inspiration for her recent book which offers fresh perspectives about the relationship between assessment and feedback and students’ experience of alienation, agency, and engagement. Tansy worked at the universities of Solent and Winchester before joining Bristol. Outside of work, she can be found walking Teddy, the family lab, jogging slowly, reading detective novels, and messing about in the kitchen. Images from the on-campus Day 1 of the 2023 Conference Previous Conference Information and Resources 2023 Conference Resources - Investigate, inquire, innovate The University of Edinburgh Learning and Teaching Conference took place on 27-28 June 2023.Day 1 (27 June) was held at Nucleus, King’s Buildings campus. The day focussed on keynote talks, panel discussions, workshops, paper presentations, walkshops, exhibitor stands, poster pitches, and opportunities to network.Day 2 (28 June) took place online. This day showcased keynote talks, paper presentations, panel discussions, workshops, short talks and storytelling.The aim of the conference was to bring together staff and students from across the institution to share good practice, to take a scholarly look at learning and teaching, and to continue to raise the profile of learning and teaching at The University of Edinburgh.The theme for the 2023 Conference was ‘Scholarship of Teaching and Learning SoTL (SoTL)’. The sub-themes for the Conference 2023 were as follows:Research-informed teachingInnovation and creativity in teachingPartnershipSoTL case studiesKeynote Speakers:Professor Heather McQueen, Professor of Biology Education, University of Edinburgh, and students, Sophie Luc and Jessica O’LoughlinDr Irma Meijerman, Principal Fellow of the Centre for Academic Teaching and Learning, Utrecht UniversityProfessor Gert Biesta, Professor of Educational Theory and Pedagogy, University of EdinburghBarbara Becnel, PhD Candidate, Social Justice Activist and Author, The University of EdinburghMaterials from many of the session presentations are available: View the video resources from the Learning and Teaching Conference 2023 here 2022 Conference Resources - Shaping Our Futures The University of Edinburgh Learning and Teaching Conference 2022 took place 14-16 June 2022. Day 1 (14 June) was held in the McEwan Hall with opportunities to watch online. This day focussed on keynote presentations, panel talks, poster presentations, and opportunities to network. Days 2 and 3 (15 & 16 June) took place online. These shorter days showcased paper presentations, workshops, short talks, panel discussions, and storytelling.The conference aims to celebrate our teaching and share practice around the theme, 'Shaping Our Futures'. The sub-themes for the Conference 2022 were as follows:Building communityTeaching data skills, data ethics and AISustainabilityInterdisciplinary teachingHybridity reimagined: Teaching experientially in outdoor, indoor and online placesEquality, Diversity and InclusionChallenging accepted ways of thinkingStudent-Staff co-creation curriculum workEngaging employers, community, and alumni.Keynote speakers:Professor Catherine Bovill, Senior Lecturer in Student Engagement at the Institute for Academic Development (IAD), University of EdinburghTara Gold, EUSA Vice-President Education 2021-22 and Ellen MacRae, EUSA President 2020-22Andreas Schleicher, Director for the Directorate of Education and Skills, and Special Advisor on Education Policy to the Secretary-General at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris.Materials from many of the session presentations are available: View the 2022 Conference resources here 2021 Conference Resources - Curriculum As A Site For Transformation The University of Edinburgh Learning and Teaching Conference 2021 was hosted online and ran over 3 days (15th - 17th June 2021 ) with the first day being open to colleagues outside the University to attend.Presentations focused on 'curriculum as a site for transformation', and the following sub-themes:Building communityInnovation in science teachingEquality, diversity, inclusion and social justiceExperiential, place-based and problem-based learningAssessment and feedback for the futureNew lessons in digital teaching – insights from hybrid and online learningStudent engagement and involvementInterdisciplinary learning and teaching: local and global challenges Keynote speakers:Prof Kerri-Lee Krause, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students), University of Melbourne, AustraliaProf Rowena Arshad CBE, FEIS, Chair in Multi-cultural and Anti-racist Education - Professor Emerita with the University of EdinburghMaterials from many of the session presentations are available: View the resources on the 2021 Conference site 2020 Conference Resources - Curriculum Futures We were delighted to have been able to make the 2020 conference a fully online experience. The theme of the 2020 conference was 'Curriculum Futures'. Keynote speakers:Prof Sian Bayne, Professor of Digital Education, the University of EdinburghProf Colm Harmon, Vice-Principlan Students and personal chair in Applied Economics, the University of Edinburgh.Sessions from the conference were recorded and recordings and accompanying resources can be access by University of Edinburgh staff on the Learning & Teaching Conference website: View the 2020 Conference resources 2019 Conference Resources - Evidencing the Value of Learning and Teaching The second Learning and Teaching Conference was held in 2019 in the John MacIntyre Conference Centre at Pollock Halls.The theme for the 2019 conference was 'Evidencing the Value of Learning and Teaching'.Keynote speakers:Professor Peter Felten, Professor of History, Assistant Provost for Teaching and Learning, and Executive Director of the Center for Engaged Learning at Elon University, North Carolina, USA.Peter Felten's keynote presentation slides (PDF)Dr Camille Kandiko Howson, Associate Professor of Education, Imperial College London. Camille Kandiko Howson’s keynote presentation slides (PDF)Keynote presentations were recorded, and materials from many of the session presentations are also available. View the 2019 Conference resources 2018 Conference Resources - Inspiring Learning The University's first Learning & Teaching Conference was held in June 2018.The theme of the 2018 conference was 'Inspiring Learning'.You can watch this short video about the 2018 Conference which offers an insight into the reasons for running the Learning and Teaching Conference.Keynote speakers: Prof Amy B M Tsui, Professor of Language and Education, University of Hong KongDr Torgny Roxå, Senior Lecturer, Lund University, SwedenKeynote presentations were recorded, and materials from many of the session presentations are also available. View the 2018 Conference resources This article was published on 2024-02-26
