Madrid: A Focus on Pedagogy
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

Contemporary Teaching in a Time of Change
Event Date: June 24-26, 2026
Abstract Date: July 15, 2025
June 2026
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid | Routledge | AMPS. A conference in the Focus on Pedagogy Series
CONTEMPORARY TEACHING in a time of CHANGE

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This conference examines the future of education globally from across varied disciplinary fields. It does in an era of unprecedent change: A worldwide pandemic that distanced the educator from the learner. The emergence of AI. The continued diversification of the student body. The decolonization of the curriculum. The incorporation of sustainability and resilience into our teaching – to name just a few of the issues at play.

Starting from this premise, this conference is interested in exploring critical perspectives on the future of education in specific disciplines and across disciplinary boundaries. It does so however, with an equal concern for maintaining what is strong and functions well in the way we teach today.

For example, in spatial design disciplines like architecture and urban planning the ‘crit’ is being questioned. In the broader art and design fields, the pandemic has led to a rethink of ‘the studio’. In the social sciences there is an increasing emphasis on engaging both learners and communities. Across media studies and the humanities the large lecture format is being remodeled. In the health and wellbeing fields big data is increasingly seen as important. Simultaneously, like in most other fields, in engineering and the sciences the impacts of AI are already being felt.

All this sits alongside currents of change that have been flowing through academia in recent years: the integration of teaching and research, the emergence of new pedagogical theories, the widening of participation, the creeping financialization of teaching and learning, and more. The range of issues moulding what we do as educators in our individual classes, studios and labs then, is and always was, vast. How we navigate this moment while conserving what has worked well in the past is critical.

 


 

Reflecting on this scenario from the historic city of Madrid, this conference draws on an educational history that is deep-rooted: the city is home to the Royal Spanish Academy, the internationally renowned Instituto Cervantes and some of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe. It is an ideal setting for examining the future of education in our respective disciplines, but also understanding their individual pasts. With this in mind, the conference seeks examples of best practice teaching and research across disciplinary fields and issues including, but not limited to:

Teaching & Learning | Art & Design | Humanities & Social Sciences Engineering & Built Environments | Science & Technology | Health & Wellbeing

Responding to the impact of AI | Emerging pedagogies – from the flipped classroom to un-grading | Internationalization & decolonizing the curriculum | Student focused learning & support | Community & industry partnerships | Cross-disciplinary teaching & research | Educational technologies and more.

Image: Madrid, Royal Palace. Stephen Bridges

Disciplines

  • Urban Planning
  • Sustainability
  • Architecture
  • Sociology
  • Human Geography
  • Transport
  • Art
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Media Studies
  • Environmental Psychology
  • Communications
  • Digital Design
  • Humanities
  • Public Health
  • Community Studies
  • Design
  • Urban Economics
  • Cultural Studies
  • Public Services
  • Creative Industries
  • Tourism
  • Heritage

Key Dates

Abstracts (Round 1)
15 July 2025
Feedback
25 Aug 2025
Conference
24-26 June 2026
Full Paper Submissions
20 September 2026
Full Paper Resubmissions
30 January 2027
Publications
30 March 2027

Themes

Technology & Teaching
From artificial intelligence & Chat GPT to virtual reality & distance learning
Teaching Creativity & Creative Teaching
From art & design studios to experimental pedagogies
Disciplinary Pedagogies & Practices
Exploring studio teaching, large lectures, seminars, workshops & labs
Curriculum Development
Examining ways of expanding what and how we teach
Experimental Pedagogies & Innovative Teaching
Exploring innovations from flipped classrooms to upgrading

Formats

In-person: Live at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

Zoom: Virtual presentations coordinated by AMPS

@Madrid: For delegates visiting the city but presenting virtually on Zoom 

Pre-recorded:  Pre-recorded presentations or films will be available permanently on the AMPS Academic YouTube channel

Written papers: In all cases, delegates can present full written papers for inclusion in associated conference publications

In-person: (15-20 mins)
Zoom: (15-20 mins)
@Madrid: (15-20 mins)
Pre-recorded video: (15-20 mins)
Written papers: (3000 words)

 

Publications

The publishers that AMPS works with include Routledge Taylor & Francis, UCL Press, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Vernon Press, Libri Publishing and Intellect Books.

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Conference outputs include the AMPS Proceedings Series, ISSN 2398-9467; Special Issue Publications of the academic journal Architecture_MPS ISSN 2020-9006; Books from this event will be developed by Cambridge Scholars Publishing, with short films available on the AMPS Academic YouTube Channel.

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Written papers are optional.  If submitted they should be 3,000 word length. Formatting instructions to follow after the conference. All papers are double- blind peer-reviewed for the AMPS Conference Proceedings Series. Subject to review, selected authors will be invited to develop longer versions as articles in the academic journal Architecture_MPS or in specially produced conference books.

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Submissions & Registration:

Registration Delegate Fee: $425 USD  |  Audience Fee: $210 USD                                                                                      Queries: team@amps-research.com

 

Click the button below to submit your abstract.