A year on from being awarded University of the Year for Teaching Quality by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018, Aberystwyth University has hosted its annual conference dedicated to improving the student learning experience.

Run over three days, the Aberystwyth University Learning and Teaching Conference is organised by the University’s E-Learning Team.

Now in its sixth year, the event provides an opportunity to share the latest innovations and good practice in teaching and learning.

In June, Aberystwyth University was awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) and the theme for this year’s conference was ‘Stepping up Students’ Learning’, with a focus on three strands: independent learning and engagement; transition; and students taking ownership of learning.

Based in the Llandinam Building on Penglais campus, the conference opened with a welcome addresses from vice-chancellor Prof Elizabeth Treasure; Prof Tim Woods, pro vice-chancellor (Learning, Teaching and Student Experience); and Megan Hatfield, academic affairs officer at Aberystwyth Students Union.

The opening keynote speaker was Prof Jonathan Shaw from the Disruptive Media Learning Lab at Coventry University.

He discussed how the lab focuses on mainstream and alternative approaches to technologies and how these are explored, repurposed and remixed towards conceptualising a more hybrid and open approach to teaching and learning in order to meet a wide range of stakeholders’ needs and expectations.

Prof Woods said: “I am confident that all participants will find their teaching invigorated, their practices re-energised and their horizons extended.”

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