We’re excited to announce a brand new collaborative online conference from the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Education (CILE). Funded by the Office for Students, CILE is a virtual centre between Cranfield and Aston Universities which aims to advance innovation within UK higher education (HE).
Suitable for all HE professionals, September’s conference will look at the needs of future HE students and staff as well as the important partnership between HE and employers.
Join us for some probing discussions to bring together learning from across the sector as we consider HE innovation in the new economy.
Conference themes
Employers: the importance of partnership for future HE
Students: meeting the needs of the future HE student
Staff: recruiting and developing staff for the future of HE
Technology: supporting the future of HE
Watch the recorded sessions
You can watch the recordings of the session via the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Education website.
News, publications and events
Press release - speakers announced
Event programme
| 09:15 | Event open |
| 09:30-10:00 | Introduction Professor Lynette Ryals, Cranfield University and Professor Helen Higson, Aston University |
| 10:05-10:45 | Keynote 1: The value and values of HE - what Westminster thinks about the future of universities and what that might mean. Rachel Wolf, Founding Partner of Public First |
| 10:45-11:00 | COFFEE BREAK |
| 11:00-11:50 | Theme 1: Employers - the importance of partnership for future HE Lorraine Bell, MK:U Professional Skills Lead, Cranfield University Emma Mason, Head of Business Intelligence, Aston University Mark Homans, Senior Relationship Director, Santander Universities Q&A moderated by Professor Lynette Ryals |
| 11:50-12:00 | BREAK |
| 12:00-12:50 | Theme 2: Students - meeting the needs of the future HE student Ellen Pope, Head of the Learning Development Centre, Aston University Mel Ellis, Mastership Operations Manager, Cranfield University & Michael Bernon, Associate Professor of Supply Chain leadership, Cranfield University Andy McDowell, Senior Lecturer, Queens University Belfast Q&A moderated by Professor Helen Higson |
| 12:50-13:30 | LUNCH BREAK |
| 13:30-14:10 | Keynote 2: Regeneration through Education: Re-inventing Universities’ Social Purpose Lord Jim Knight, Chief Education and External Officer at TES Global |
| 14:10-14:15 | BREAK |
| 14:15-15:05 | Theme 3: Staff - recruiting and developing staff for the future of HE Chris Wilson, Lecturer, Education Department, Aston University Rebecca Jarrett, Head of Resourcing, Cranfield University Paul Towers, Educational Developer, Wolverhampton University and Gemma Witton, Educational Developer, Wolverhampton University Q&A moderated by Professor Lynette Ryals |
| 15:05-15:20 | COFFEE BREAK |
| 15:20-16:10 | Theme 4: Technology - supporting the future of HE Gillian Knight, Associate Dean in Education, Aston University Graham Bell, Director Digital Education, Cranfield University Ian Woolner, Modern Education Solution Specialist, Microsoft Q&A moderated by Professor Helen Higson |
| 16:15 | Close and future collaboration Professor Lynette Ryals, Chief Executive of MK:U Ltd and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Cranfield University Professor Helen Higson, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Aston University |
