Higher education professionals and students from across the world will arrive in Aberdeen next week for a conference that will focus on the key role that collaboration and compassion has to play in higher education.
Hosted by the University of Aberdeen, The International Higher Education Teaching & Learning Association (HETL) conference is taking place at the P&J Live from Monday June 12, featuring keynote speakers including internationally renowned academic, cultural commentator and broadcaster Professor Mona Siddiqui, OBE.
Professor Siddiqui will begin the conference today with a speech on the importance of inclusion in higher education, emphasising the main theme of the conference – ‘Re-imagining Education: Collaboration and Compassion’.
A detailed programme of events taking place over three days will see delegates explore diverse topics examining the key role that collaboration and compassion has to play in education, and how lessons learned by educators across the world can be applied elsewhere.
A series of social events taking place in the city and region are planned as part of the conference, including a civic reception at Aberdeen’s Town House taking place on Monday evening.
Professor Ruth Taylor, Vice-Principal (Education) at the University of Aberdeen, said: “I’m delighted to welcome the HETL 2023 conference to Aberdeen.
“The focus on collaboration and compassion in higher education reflect the values of our University outlined in our Aberdeen 2040 strategy, which is to be inclusive, international, interdisciplinary and sustainable.
“These values will provide the framework for the conference and an opportunity to reimagine education with a focus on collaboration and compassion – we are looking forward to hearing many examples of how this has been done in a higher education context, including here at the University.
“My thanks go to all those who have been involved in bringing this conference to Aberdeen and I look forward to some stimulating and thought-provoking discussion.”
Nikki Pearce, who heads the University’s Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and Events Services Unit which helped bring the conference to the city, added:
“We are delighted to have worked alongside HETL, P&J Live and Visit Aberdeenshire to bring the HETL 2023 conference to Aberdeen. It was a real team effort to get to this point, and we are looking forward to delivering a successful event alongside our partners.”
Patrick Blessinger, President of the HETL Association, added: “The 2023 Aberdeen conference provides a wonderful opportunity to fulfill the mission and vision of the HETL Association by advancing the scholarship and practice of teaching and learning in higher education."