National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Public Consultation: Fundamental Values in Higher Education
2026-04-10
The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) has launched a public consultation as part of the Monitoring the Fundamental Values of Higher Education (NewFAV2) project. The consultation seeks input from across the academic community to inform ongoing monitoring and reporting on fundamental values in higher education.
Members of the academic community — including teaching staff, researchers, administrative staff and students — are invited to complete the survey. Responses will contribute to a broader evidence base supporting policy development and sectoral understanding across EHEA countries.
The consultation is open until 10 April 2026 (end of day).
Consultation SurveyAccess the survey here: https://uefiscdi.limesurvey.net/891964?lang=en&newtest=Y
Further InformationLearn more about the initiative: https://fundamentalvalues.info/

2026 HEA Health and Wellbeing Conference ‘Global Perspectives, Ireland Leadership: Transforming Healthy Campus Policy’
2026-04-21 09:30 - 2026-04-22 16:30 (Europe/Dublin)
We are delighted to invite you to attend the 2026 HEA Health and Wellbeing Conference ‘Global Perspectives, Ireland Leadership: Transforming Healthy Campus Policy’, Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd April 2026, at the Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7. The event will be held across two days with pre-conference workshops on day one, April 21st and the conference held on day two, April 22nd.
The conference aims to build on the momentum of Ireland’s global success with the launch the Limerick Framework for Action in 2025 and focus on advancing national policy. Keynote speakers include Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Philip Dodd and a joint keynote with Canadian perspectives delivered by Professor Vicki Squires, University of Saskatchewan, and Dr Jennifer Thannhauser, University of Calgary. Further information on speakers, topics and themes will be provided. The preconference workshops include the ‘Limerick Framework for Action: Advancing the Global Health Promoting Campus Agenda’ with the University of Limerick and ‘Student Wellbeing – Scoping Online Learning Resources‘ with spunout.

Case Studies
We are inviting institutions to submit Healthy Campus Case Studies for display at the conference. You can find an updated 2026 template at HEA Healthy Campus Case Study Template 2026 Please submit your case studies (with the 2026 template only) to healthycampus@hea.ie, by COB Friday April 3rd.

Lightning Talks
As part of the conference agenda, April 22nd, we are inviting expressions of interests for speakers to present lightning talks relating to student and staff health and wellbeing. The closing date for submissions is Wednesday April 1st, 2026. For more information or to submit an expression of interest please click here.

Registration

Day One, Pre-Conference Workshops, Tuesday, April 21st , 9.30 – 16.00 pm, please click here.
Day Two, Conference Day, Wednesday, April 22nd, 9.30 – 16.30 pm, please click here.

We hope you can join us for this event and build on the momentum of the work to date. Please share this invitation with relevant colleagues and students working to support campus health and wellbeing.

Any questions please email healthycampus@hea.ie

HEA Health & Wellbeing Conference – Global Perspectives, Ireland Leadership: Transforming Healthy Campus Policy
2026-04-22
The Higher Education Authority will hold the third health and wellbeing conference ‘Global Perspectives, Ireland Leadership: Transforming Healthy Campus Policy’ on April 22nd at The Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7.
The conference aims to build on the momentum of Ireland’s global success with the launch the Limerick Framework for Action in 2025 and focus on advancing national policy.
Registration is now open for the conference day, Wednesday April 22nd, 9.30 am – 16.30 pm. Please click here to register.
Any questions please email healthycampus@hea.ie
Keynote Speakers
Keynote speakers include:
Professor Philip Dodd
Professor Philip Dodd is currently working as Deputy Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health, where he is working across a wide range of health policy areas, including health promotion. He is also Principal Mental Health Policy & Clinical Specialist for the Department of Health, supporting the implementation of mental health policy, suicide and self-harm reduction strategy & mental health promotion, under Healthy Ireland.
He was previously Clinical Advisor with HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention and worked as HSE National Clinical Advisor and Clinical Group Lead (Mental Health).
Professor Dodd is a Consultant Psychiatrist and an established clinical researcher and is a full Clinical Professor at Trinity College Dublin
Dr Vicki Squires
Dr Vicki Squires serves as the Associate Dean, Research, Graduate Support and International Initiatives and is a Professor in the Department of Educational Administration in the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan. Her areas of research are post-secondary education and student well-being; supporting mental health and wellbeing requires collaboration among units and a systems approach.
Dr Squires has been the lead of multiple grants exploring the implementation of the Okanagan Charter on campuses in Canada and globally. She has published and presented on the work of health promoting universities and the Okanagan Charter; she is also the lead editor on a co-edited book that includes international co-authored chapters written by researchers involved in health promotion efforts on their campuses.
Dr Jennifer Thannhauser
Pre-Conference Workshops
The HEA will be hosting two preconference workshops which will include the ‘Limerick Framework for Action: Advancing the Global Health Promoting Campus Agenda’ with the University of Limerick and ‘Exploring Wellbeing in the Curriculum’ in collaboration with Spunout, with more information to follow.
Healthy Campus Case Studies Submissions
We are inviting institutions to submit Healthy Campus Case Studies for display at the conference.
Please find an updated 2026 template here. Please submit your case studies (with the 2026 template only) to healthycampus@hea.ie
Closing date for case study submissions will be Friday April 3rd.
Lightning Talk Submissions
As part of the conference agenda, April 22nd, we are inviting expressions of interests for speakers to present lightning talks relating to student and staff health and wellbeing.
The closing date for submissions is Wednesday April 1st, 2026.
For more information or to submit an expression of interest please click here.

Good Science Discussion Series: Finding the scientist in your community
2026-04-22 18:00 - 19:30 | Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
Book your ticket here.
Join us for a panel discussion exploring how to find the scientist in your community. This is a hybrid event with both in-person and online tickets available.
Moderated by award-winning educator and researcher, Dr John O’Donoghue from Trinity College Dublin, this panel will convene a range of experts in public science and science communication to consider the importance of education and public engagement for promoting ‘Good Science’ and how we can help facilitate accessible community engagement in science and research. This event is aimed at researchers, students, educators, policy makers, communities, and anyone with a broad interest in public science.
The panellists for the event are:
• Dr Claire Murray, Freelance researcher in citizen science and science communication
• Professor Alan Kelly, Professor of Food Science at University College Cork
• Dr Niamh Shaw, Scientist, engineer, STEM communicator, writer, and performer
• Dr Jessamyn Fairfield, Lecturer in the School of Natural Sciences and the School of English, Media and Creative Arts, University of Galway
‘Finding the Scientist in your Community’ is the third panel event in the Good Science Discussion Series, a series of public conversations organised by the Academy’s Physical, Chemical and Mathematical Sciences Committee that aim to address the important issues of science communication, ethical science and public trust in expertise.

Griffith College Teaching and Learning Symposium
2026-05-08 09:30 - 13:00
Designing and Implementing Assessment for Inclusive Practice

Date: Friday 8th May
Time: 0930-1pm
Location: Zoom: https://griffith.zoom.us/j/8501523299?omn=99654460584

Our Teaching and Learning Symposium explores current research and practical approaches to assessment in modern higher education environments, with a strong focus on inclusive practice for all learners. This session includes the opportunity for networking and sharing ideas through breakout rooms, engage in learning using online tools, and of course, plenty of stretch breaks to grab a coffee between sessions.

Keynote Speakers:

Dr Maggie Green is a lecturer in the Department of Early Education and Social Studies in ATU Donegal. Maggie will draw from her own research and personal insights to discuss co-created assessment with a particular focus on the importance of creative approaches, student voice and neuroaffirmative perspectives.

Tracy Galvin is a lecturer in Higher Education Practice, Teaching and Learning, Ulster University, Belfast. Tracy is pursuing a Ph.D. at Ulster University on inclusive practice through a UDL lens.Tracy’s interactive session will provide inclusive insights into modular design for those who teach or support learning. The session draws from an EDI in the curriculum Toolkit, which is underpinned by UDL to provide practical ways to learn from one another by sharing practices, to build self-awareness on current practices by making small changes to practice. The session focus will be on three Pillars within the EDI Toolkit; Inclusive and Accessible Design; Inclusive and Authentic Assessment (including Rubrics), and Feedback and Learner Agency

Best Practice Assessment Redesign – Griffith College

Paula Byrne, lecturer in ACCA and CPA Advanced tax, and MSCAF programme & Suzanne BurdisProgramme Director and lecturer, Graduate Business School, Dublin
Eilish Mc Carthy,Programme Director, Griffith College Limerick
Angela Hickey, Programme Director, Psychology Department
Mary O’Driscoll,Learning Support Advisor “Inclusive assessment briefs: Clarity, Considerations, and Common pitfalls”

Moving Forward
Dr. Mary Quirke, lecturer, Psychology Department “The Journey Continues: Reflecting, Connecting, and Moving Forward with UDL, AI, Integrity, and Inclusive Assessment”

#EduXR26 XR and me: Learning in New Realities
2026-05-12
A one-day, in-person symposium taking place on May 12th at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Athlone campus.
Following the success of our inaugural EduXR25 symposium, partners from TUS, SETU, MTU, UCD, Dunboyne College of Further Education, and Louth-Meath ETB are delighted to invite you to the second edition of the symposium this year. As eXtended Reality (XR) technologies — which include augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality — are transforming how we teach, learn, and prepare for an immersive future, EduXR26 hopes to bring together educators, researchers, industry partners, and learners to share experiences, strengthen networks, and forge new connections within our growing XR community.
This year, we are delighted to be joined by Dr Maria Roussou as the keynote speaker for the symposium. Dr Roussou is an Associate Professor in Interactive Systems at the University of Athens, specializing in eXtended Reality (XR) and Human-Computer Interaction, specifically on designing and evaluating digital experiences for education and culture. She previously established and directed the Virtual Reality Department at the Foundation of the Hellenic World (1998-2003) and is the recipient of the 2013 Tartessos Award in Digital Heritage and Virtual Archaeology.
To find out more about the symposium, please see CPID Events – TUS, and don’t forget to save the date!

DCU Challenge Accepted: A collaborative showcase of Challenge-Based Learning (CBL)
2026-05-12
On May 12th, Dublin City University (DCU) will host a showcase event to celebrate the impact of Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) at the university in recent years. At DCU, CBL is defined as a process of collaborative engagement with peers, academics, and stakeholders to develop solutions to real-world social, technological, environmental and economic challenges of urgency and significance. It is a distinctively learner-driven pedagogy where learners, with the support of academics, define the dimensions of the challenge to be worked on. Throughout the process, learners are given opportunities to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to propose solutions for the challenge in question.
DCU educators from all five faculties will be sharing examples of CBL in practice from a diverse range of disciplines and contexts including Education, Law and Government, Computing, Engineering, Business, Geography, and Chemistry and Bioprocessing. We will be hearing the perspectives of students, external stakeholders, and of course the innovative educators who are applying this approach creatively in their teaching. This event is being co-hosted by DCU Futures and DCU Teaching Enhancement Unit with input from our partners in the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU). We are looking forward to a packed day of inspiring CBL stories, ideas, and experiences all in the surrounds of our latest dedicated active learning space, The Spark, at DCU. If numbers permit, external participants may attend. Registration is essential so if you would like to join this in-person event on May 12th, please first express interest by emailing thespark@dcu.ie.

DigitalEd26 Conference in partnership with GenAI:N3
2026-05-13
The ATU 2025 DigitalEd Conference will take place on May 13th, 2026, with a theme of Future-Ready Universities: Sustainable Digital Practices and Pedagogical Uses of AI in Teaching and Learning.
The sessions will focus on a variety of teaching and learning themes, including:

Transformative Education in learning and teaching
GenAI and navigating its role in teaching and learning
Ethical use of AI
Immersive Learning: Innovative Pedagogies
Education for Sustainable Development

Registration is now open and the conference site is live https://www.digitaled.ie/webinars-events/atu-digitaled-conference-2026/
This conference is funded under the HEA, SATLE National Forum T&L funding. All welcome to attend online or in-person (limited places in-person – advice is to register early).

Open Education: Supporting Policy and Practice
2026-05-20
A national event informing the strategic development of open education in teaching and learning across Ireland’s higher education sector
Munster Technological University, Bishopstown Campus
Wednesday, 20 May 2026, 10.00AM – 4.30PM
About the Event
This national event brings together colleagues from across Ireland’s higher education sector to explore current priorities and emerging practices in open education . It is framed in response to the HEA Strategy for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, which identifies open education as a strategic enabler of collaboration, innovation, and inclusive access across the sector.
The Strategy places particular emphasis on strengthening collaboration, sustaining and expanding the National Resource Hub, and supporting the development of institutional open education policies and practices. This event offers a structured opportunity for institutions to engage directly with those priorities, to reflect on progress to date, share practice, and contribute to the coordinated development of open educational resources (OER) and open educational practices (OEP) in line with the Strategy.
The programme will include a keynote address, sectoral case studies, and interactive workshops. These sessions will examine practical implementation challenges, explore sustainable models for embedding openness within institutional policy and practice, and inform ongoing national development under the HEA Strategy.
Find our more: https://hub.teachingandlearning.ie/hea-open-education-supporting-policy-and-practice/

ATU Universal Design for Learning Conference 29th May 2026
2026-05-29 | Atlantic Technological University, Ash Lane, Sligo, F91 YW50
The ATU UDL Tertiary Education Conference will be held on Friday 29th May 2026, ATU Sligo
Theme: Climbing the UDL Ladder: Building a Culture of Belonging in Tertiary Education
Mark your calendars!
Further details: https://www.atu.ie/events/atus-annual-udl-conference.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and be inspired.

Exploring AI in Higher Education with Leon Furze, creator of AI Assessment Scale
2026-05-29 10:00 - 2026-06-10 11:00
The Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) team, in partnership with colleagues in South-East Technological University (SETU), is delighted to welcome Leon Furze, the co-creator of the Artificial Intelligence Assessment Scale and a highly influential voice internationally on GenAI in Teaching and Learning, to deliver a two-part hybrid webinar series on Exploring AI in Higher Education.
The first part, hosted by TU Dublin, is taking place on 29 May at 10am, online (from 10-11) and in-person (from 10-12 in EQ-116 in Grangegorman). The event will be recorded for those unable to attend. The topic for this event is “The AI Assessment Scale in Practice, Examples from the Disciplines“. Further information is available here.
The second part, hosted by SETU, is taking place on 10 June at 10am, online (from 10-11). The topic for this event is “Cognitive Offloading, GenAI, and the Future of Learning“. Further information on the second part is available here.
Staff in TU Dublin (and beyond) can sign up here.

EdTech 2026 Conference
2026-06-03 08:00 - 2026-06-04 17:00
The 25th EdTech conference takes place on Wednesday, 3 June and Thursday, 4 June 2026, at Dublin City University’s (DCU) historic St Patrick’s Campus, in Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland. Hosted by the Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA), the conference co-chairs are Dr Rob Lowney from the DCU Teaching Enhancement Unit and Kate Molloy, PhD scholar in the DCU School of STEM Education, Innovation and Global Studies.
The theme is “EdTech You: Digital learning from how to who” – that aims to centre and celebrate the people of EdTech as well as the work they do.
The conference website contains a timeline of key dates, as well as details of the three keynote speakers – Dr Abeba Birhane, Dr Ben Williamson and Prof Felicitas Macgilchrist – and other general conference information, such as the call for abstracts and registration details.
Abstract proposals can be submitted via ConfTool before the deadline for:

Practitioner papers
Research papers
Gasta (lightning) talks
Posters
Workshops
Doctoral roundtable

The EdTech Conference brings together educators, researchers, technology and student support staff, and industry professionals to share and explore the use of technology in education. It provides an opportunity to present your research and projects and develop new collaborations and contacts. As the 25th iteration of this premier learning technology and digital education conference, the conference also welcomes contributions reflecting on the past quarter century of technologies and methodologies which have helped to shape us.
Additionally, the call for submissions for the Jennifer Burke Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning is also open, closing 13 April 2026

Join the ILTA mailing list, follow them on Bluesky and LinkedIn or see the website for updates.

MTU Universal Design Symposium June 2026
2026-06-16 08:00 - 2026-06-17 17:00
The symposium is an interactive event for us to share together and learn from each other how we embed universal design in all that we do in higher education to enhance our student and staff experience.
With four Keynote speakers and over 20 presenters representing Abertay University, Scotland, AHEAD, Atlantic Technological University, Dublin City University, George Brown Polytechnic, Ontario, Canada, Skills For Life, Saint John of God Kerry Services, South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences, Technological University of the Shannon, The Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD), National Disability Authority (NDA), UNESCO, University College Dublin, University of Crete, University of Limerick and University of Washington. Presentations address themes of universal framework design application across the pillars of:

Teaching and Learning and Assessment
Student Supports, Services and Social Engagement
Physical Environment
Digital Environment
People and Culture

The symposium is funded by the Technological Sector Advancement Fund (TSAF) and MTU and free to all, but attendees must register to book a place as the capacity must be capped at 150 attendees. Please complete by May 20th.
For full details on speakers, venue, programme, accommodation and Registration, please visit https://www.mtu.ie/ud-symposium/

Digital Accessibility 2026 conference
2026-06-24 09:30 - 16:00
The Digital Accessibility 2026 conference will take place this year on Weds 24th June, bringing together practitioners, researchers, accessibility specialists, learning technologists, educators, developers, policy makers, and institutional leaders to explore the evolving future of digital accessibility across education and beyond. Organised this year as a distributed conference, the sessions will be taking place on the University of Nottingham campus, but a number of institutions across the UK and Ireland will be holding corresponding local hub events as gathering places for interested attendees to engage with the conference locally. This is a great opportunity for networking and collaboration for those who can’t attend in Nottingham on the day.
We will be holding a local hub event for participants from the greater Dublin area here on the DCU campus on Weds 24th June. Please feel free to pass this invite on to any members of the National Forum and beyond. We ask only that any interested attendees register to attend, so that we know how many to expect.
Lunch and refreshments will be generously provided on the day by our good friends at Brickfield Education Labs.

Event Details: Digital Accessibility 2026 Conference – DCU Local Hub Event
When: Wed, 24/06/2026 – 09:30 to 16:00
Where: DCU Glasnevin Campus (Exact location will be shared, along with parking details)
Who: All Welcome, but registration is required. Please register here.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Workshop: Exploring the AI Fluency Framework
2026-08-27 11:00 - 16:30
Join Professor Joseph Feller for this interactive workshop, jointly hosted by the Higher Education Authority and University College Cork, exploring the AI Fluency Framework (AIFF) and its application to higher education teaching and learning.
The workshop will introduce the core concepts of the AI Fluency Framework and consider how it can support curriculum development, pedagogy, instructional design, independent inquiry, assessment and wider teaching and learning practice. Participants will engage in practical exercises and guided discussions, with opportunities to connect the framework to their own institutional and professional contexts.
More information and registation:
https://hub.teachingandlearning.ie/exploring-the-ai-fluency-framework/

CCT GenAI in Teaching, Learning and Assessment: From Ideas to Action 2026
2026-09-03 08:00 - 17:00
This conference explores the evolving role of generative AI in teaching, learning and assessment across higher education. It focuses on how institutions, educators and students can engage with AI in ways that are pedagogically meaningful, ethically grounded and aligned with academic integrity.
Important Dates

Open Now: Call for Abstracts (250 words)

Open Now: Registration Open (conference fully funded by CCT College)

14th August:Abstract Submission Deadline- Call for Case Studies open now

August: Feedback on Abstracts

For more information visit GenAI in TLA: Ideas into Action
Register to attend conference here
Contact: conference@cct.ie

Introducing the HEA ESD Framework for Higher Education
2026-09-10

HEA Teaching and Learning Conference 2026
2026-12-01 - 2026-12-02
On 01 and 02 December 2026, the Higher Education Authority will host a full two-day Teaching and Learning event to bring together leaders, educators, researchers, policymakers, and others supporting teaching and learning. You can register your interest in the conference by completing the form.
Further details to follow.
Visit https://hub.teachingandlearning.ie/conference/
