Call for submissions: Teaching and Learning Conference 2020

This year's conference will take place on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 June and submissions are now invited from staff and students and collaborative partner institutions, as well as other colleagues working in post-16 education.

Now in its 19th year, LJMU’s annual Teaching and Learning Conference is a forum to share and discuss innovative and effective teaching, learning and assessment practices, as well as explore findings from teaching-related research and evaluation.
On the theme of ‘Closing the Gap’, this year’s event will share the work of academic and professional services staff, and students, across a range of related higher education teaching and learning topics. With a focus on addressing the barriers to students’ success, the event will showcase initiatives and interventions from across the university designed to tackle inequalities and disparities in student success. 

We are interested in sessions that include the use of interactive teaching methods, learning technologies and creative approaches to curriculum, inclusive teaching and assessment design.

Submissions must be received by 10.00am on Monday 17 February 2020.

Overview for submissions

We are seeking short presentation submissions on teaching innovations, interventions and practice that enhance learning, or that debate current issues in higher education teaching related to the conference theme.  We particularly welcome presentations from, or in partnership with, students or cross-school/faculty/institutional collaborations:

• Students from areas where a low percentage of young people go into HE (POLAR)
• Students from low socioeconomic status households (Index of Multiple Deprivation, IMD)
• Black, Asian and minority ethnic students
• Mature students
• Disabled students
• Care leavers
• Students estranged from their families
• Northern Irish students
• Students from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
• Refugees
• Children of military families

The plan highlights particularly large gaps in the continuation and attainment of white working-class male students (6.1% awarding gap) and in the attainment of black students (31% awarding gap) and Northern Ireland domiciled students (9% awarding gap).  
Session topics could include innovative ways in which awareness of the gaps has been raised with staff and/or students; how we work with students to explore and increase the diversity/inclusiveness of the curriculum; innovative examples of how teaching approaches or curriculum design can improve the student experience for students from underrepresented groups. 

We would be particularly interested in showcasing through the conference:

• Ideas that have cross-disciplinary interest, or transferability
• Approaches to support the inclusion and achievement of underrepresented groups
• The application of the student voice to enhance the learning experience
• Initiatives for engaging students
• Interesting and effective use of technology to engage students on and off campus
• Methods by which staff are developing their own practices individually or in collaboration

Please note, owing to the expected volume of interest, a submission does not guarantee a place on the programme; all abstracts will be considered by the Shortlisting Panel and outcomes will be communicated to lead presenters only.

Visit the Teaching and Learning Conference website for more details and updates about the conference.