The UCD Teaching and Learning Symposium took place online on 25th February, bringing together staff from across UCD and colleagues from the wider higher education sector to explore the theme of ‘Empowering Students for Academic Success Through Academic Advising’.
The programme opened with remarks from Professor Colin Scott, UCD Registrar, Deputy President and Vice President for Academic Affairs, who spoke about the importance of academic advising in fostering student engagement, belonging and the conditions for learning for life.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr Saundra Yancy McGuire, Professor Emerita of Chemistry and Director Emerita of the Center for Academic Success at Louisiana State University. A renowned expert in cognitive science and metacognition, Dr McGuire explored how metacognitive strategies can transform academic advising to empower student success, outlining practical approaches to building students’ confidence, motivation, and agency.
Colleagues involved in UCD’s academic advising pilot then presented case studies on how they have embedded advising approaches within their schools, followed by a staff-student panel chaired by a member of the UCD Teaching and Learning Students as Partners team. Students and academic advisors shared insights into the academic advising experience and its impact on student confidence and empowerment.
The symposium highlighted the growing interest across the sector in academic advising as a means of enhancing the student experience and supporting student success.
The keynote slides and resources from the event are available on the UCD Teaching and Learning Symposium 2026 news item.
