Call

Academia: the epitome of an ‘ivory tower’. A bastion of siloed thinking. Distanced from the ’real world’. The criticisms of what we do as educators can be cutting. However, today, many identify that academia is ‘turning outwards’. No longer beholden to established practices, it is increasingly diverse and varied. We see this in student focused learning. We see it in problem based learning. We see it in the embracing of AI. We see it in the areas we are supported to research, and the partnerships we are encouraged to make.

From a pedagogical perspective, this outward turn is accompanied by our own developments, like the rejection of ‘single size’ teaching styles, projects ‘relevant’ to the modern student, and academic-industry partnerships connecting with the ‘real world’. Inside the academy we are pioneering new technologies and experimenting with educational psychology. We are pushing the boundaries of what we understand teaching and learning to be. We are influencing the world outside. The result of all this, is a modern academy that is complex, nuanced and cutting edge.

Reflecting on this, the Pedagogy 2025 conference explores a multitude of issues informing contemporary academia. It explores emerging approaches to teaching and learning. It examines the effects of the digital turn. It critiques evolving research agendas and fields. It is open to big picture critiques of academia, and welcomes case studies of individual classes. It seeks debate on connecting communities, professionals and students. It examines how we can best support our students – through both the changing terrain of learning, and their life outside the academy. In short, it is a site for debate about the theories, teaching and technologies that are informing pedagogy across disciplines today.

Examples of questions of interest include, but are not limited to:

How is AI affecting teaching in the arts and the sciences? How can teachers in the humanities use ‘real world’ problems in class? Can STEM subjects embrace the ‘fluid learning’ of the cultural sector? How are built environment disciplines incorporating sustainability?  How are teachers across all disciplines applying engaged learning, flipped classrooms or peer-to-peer learning? How are administrators supporting us, and our students, in engaging with communities and industry?

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Key strands of the conference will be cross disciplinary and will include the research interests of the partnering institutions: The College of Arts at Leeds Beckett University, UK | the College of Creative and Professional Studies at Marywood University, USA | the Faculty of Art and Architecture at KU Leuven, Belgium.

To find out more about the books and journal special issues that will result from this conference with Routledge and UCL Press, see the Publications section of this site. To participate, submit an abstract.

Image: Free University. Philology Library | Foster + Partners