Conference programme

Oxford Brookes University International Teaching and Learning Conference 2025

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Day 1: Wednesday 18 June (Headington Campus)

09.30 - 15.30: Networking and knowledge sharing

We welcome Oxford Brookes colleagues to a day of in-person networking and knowledge sharing.

Programme

  • 09.30 Arrival and social networking.
  • 09.45 Oxford Brookes community welcome.
  • 10.00 Presentation from the Academic Advising Strategic Team.
  • 10.20 Stories of effective advising from Senior Faculty Academic Advisors.
  • 11.00 Break
  • 11.20 Brookes Students' Union emotions of feedback project
  • 11.50 In-person Educational Leaders Forum (ELF) 
  • 12.15 Lunch
  • 13.00 The Disabled Students’ Commitment and the EHRC Advice Note.
  • 13.40 Academic advising ‘’Carousel of learning”.
  • 14.40 Fellowship celebration.
  • 15.10 Plenary
  • 15.30 Close

Day 2: Thursday 19 June (online)

Online, everyone welcome.

09.30 - 9.45: Welcome and introductions

  • Dr Adrian Wallbank, SFHEA, and Dr Ben W. Walker, SFHEA, Conference Co-chairs, Oxford Centre for Academic Enhancement and Development.
  • Professor Jenny Lawrence, PFHEA, Professor of Higher Education and Director of the Oxford Centre for Academic Enhancement and Development.

09.45 - 10.30: Keynote address

Reaffirming the core purpose(s) of academic advising: international perspectives in disruptive times

  • Professor Peter Felten, Executive Director of the Center for Engaged Learning, Professor of History, and Assistant Provost for Teaching and Learning at Elon University, North Carolina, USA.
  • Professor Sally Kift, Higher Education Consultant, President, Australian Learning and Teaching Fellows (ALTF), Vice Chancellor’s Strategic Fellow, Victoria University, and Honorary Professor, University of Southern Queensland.

Parallel Sessions (Morning)

Key to Strands

  • Strand A: Effective practice in Academic Advising.
  • Strand B: (i) Leading Academic Advising and (ii) Setting boundaries and working with Professional Services.
  • Strand C: Training, professional confidence, and roles.
  • Strand D: Content for Advising tutorials.

10.35 - 10.55 - Papers

  • Strand BLeadership in personal tutoring and advising practices across the higher education sector, Dr Gary Jones, SFHEA, University of Winchester, Associate Professor Helen Tidy, SFHEA, and Dr Joanne Irving-Walton, PFHEA, Teesside University.
  • Strand CStrengthening academic advising through professional development: lessons from a global south context, Dr Jessica Versfeld, HPCSA, University of Pretoria, and Associate Professor Curwyn Mapaling, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
  • Strand DWhat students want from higher education teaching interactions, and why - relationship with the academic advisorKate Maguire, FHEA, Oxford Brookes University.

11.00 - 11.10 - Break

11.10 - 12.00 - Workshops 

  • Strand B: The PASS tutorial framework as an exemplar for standardising academic advising and improving academic advisor engagement, Dr Saad Arif, FHEA, and Dr Deborah Pearce, SFHEA, Oxford Brookes University.
  • Strand CMental Health First Aid for academic advisors: what role does/can MHFA play in academic advising? Dr Dan Butcher, SFHEA, Sue Jennings, FHEA, Helen Foord-Warren, FHEA, Gerry Sheppard, and Mary Lacy FHEA, Oxford Brookes University.
  • Strand D: BEE timeline: integrating academic advising with employability skills, Dr Laura Novo de Azevedo, FHEA, Lindsey Harrison, Dr Blanca Rodriguez Beltran, and Dr Mary Kitchener, SFHEA, Oxford Brookes University.

12.05 - 12.35 - Panel discussion

Academic Advising in 2025: practice, research, and theory

  • Andrew Stork, Programme Director for the Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education, University of Sheffield.
  • Dr Ben W. Walker, SFHEA, Senior Lecturer in Educational Development, Oxford Brookes University.
  • Dave Lochtie, Operations Manager, Ann Craft Trust.
  • Dr Nienke Alberts, Senior Research Associate, University of Bristol.
  • Dr Alison Raby, Senior Lecturer and Senior Tutor, University of Lincoln.

12.35 - 13.10 - Lunch

Parallel Sessions (Afternoon)

13.10 - 14.00 - Round tables
  • Strand ATransforming advising practices: relational tutoring for employability beyond the classroom, Dr Diana (Dee) Clayton, SFHEA, and Dr Anna Klenert, FHEA, Oxford Brookes University.
  • Strand BSignposting is only the start: effective referrals for successful student outcomes, Dr Michelle Reid, SFHEA, Oxford Brookes University.
  • Strand CFostering effective academic advising relationships with adults: bridging the relational space with colleague learners, Dr Mary Kitchener, SFHEA, and Gillian Kelly, Oxford Brookes University.

14.05 - 14.55 - Free Form and time for Networking (Strands A, C and D)

  • Strand AIntegrating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into academic advising for purposeful career development (20 minutes), Associate Professor Margaret Mbindyo, Millersville University, Pennsylvania, USA.
  • Strand B: Working with inclusive support to support students with Dyslexia/Neurodiversity (50 minutes), Catherine Black, Oxford Brookes University.
  • Strand CHow might the academic advising (AA)/personal tutor role purposefully help student nurses develop the required professional values and associated behaviours in preparation for future employment? (20 minutes), Sue Chilton, SFHEA, Oxford Brookes University.
  • Strand D: Artificial intelligence and academic advising (20 minutes), Dr Charlie Simpson, SFHEA, Oxford Brookes University.

14.55 - 15.05 - Break

15.05 - 15.25 - Papers and PechaKucha

  • Strand A: Purposeful academic advising practices: a student developmental offering (Paper), Dr Shelley Beck, FHEA, and Deborah Carpenter, FHEA, Oxford Brookes University.
  • Strand BBridging the awarding gaps: effective academic advising practices to address persistent awarding disparities (Paper), Dr Satomi Kimino, SFHEA, University of Hull.
  • Strand CTeaching tutors: incorporating a module on academic advising within an MA Learning and Teaching in Higher Education programme (Paper), Dr Elizabeth Munro, SFHEA, University of Winchester.
  • Strand D: What, where, and when is academic advising? (PechaKucha, 10 minutes), Dr Matt Lawson, FHEA, Oxford Brookes University.

15.30 - 16.00 - Plenary and closing address

Integrated and developmental approaches in global advising

  • Dr Catherine Mann, Associate Director, Academic Mentoring, University of Melbourne, Australia.
  • Dr Cat Picton, Student Success and Development Coordinator, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.