Agenda

• Understanding the measures implemented to protect students and universities in response to COVID-19   
• Assessing the impact of stabilising admissions and temporary student number controls, as well as preparing to welcome international students back to our universities 
• Supporting students to make more informed decisions about entry into HE – providing good quality information and advice 
• Allocating £100m of public funding to protect vital university research, as well as bringing forward £2.6bn of tuition fee payments to help manage financial risks   
• Co-ordinating national efforts to respond to challenges facing students, staff, and local communities  

Adapt to Survive under the New Normal  

• How can Universities use Technology, Collaboration and Digital Transformation to adapt to the new realities? 

• Outlining the threat, challenges and opportunities to widening access and participation due to the impact of COVID-19  
• Prioritising different levels of higher learning in response to new demands created by the crisis – encouraging upskilling and retraining through mature and flexible learning 
• Encouraging institutions to prioritise the most vulnerable and underrepresented in their approaches, particularly students who are unable to access remote learning  

• Mitigating the impact on assessment, progression and graduation over the next few years  
• Supporting the sector with the challenges created by COVID-19  
• Protecting qualification value and ensuring transparent, consistent and fair academic standards   
• Considering the implications of COVID-19 on academic integrity – committing to safeguarding against academic misconduct  

• Enhancing the student experience 

• Discussing the impact of COVID-19 on international recruitment, mobility and, research  
• Understanding the impact of the crisis in securing an effective post-Brexit position on the global scale  
• Continuing to build and promote the UK as an exceptional place to be as we prepare to welcome back international students   
• Providing a meaningful and well supported experience for international students during and beyond the pandemic 
• Bridging and building international boundaries through research excellence – maximising contribution and collaboration between academics and researchers  
• Assessing the potential economic impact with regards to job creation, research, and innovation as we move into a post-Brexit, post-COVID world  

Chaired by Rachel Hall, Universities Editor, The Guardian

Step Ahead

• Understanding data and its potential to support wellbeing to build a rich picture of students and their needs  
• An overview of the holistic student support service at the UCLan: working closely with academics and collecting student feedback  
• Assessing the value of data analytics – how students can use data to better understand themselves and access support  
• Bettering student progression, retention and engagement: utilising data collection and analysis for targeted intervention at the University of East London  
• Considering the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and further ways of supporting students through the changed environment  

• Transforming student learning and experience through collaboration technology – new ways of learning under the new normal 

• Developing the Digital Campus at the University of Leicester and becoming digital by default – creating a personalised experience through enabling digital innovation, collaboration and participation 
• Understanding how the Institution’s digital strategy aided the response to the pandemic and how it will continue to support teaching and learning 
• How the Digital Campus fits into the wider objectives of Leicester’s Strategic Plan 

• World-class digitally-enabled safe campus – Covid-safe teaching  

• Addressing student concerns to responding to the climate emergency and committing to a target of a net-zero carbon footprint by 2030  
• Developing and implementing climate action plans by facilitating collaboration between student volunteers and local organisations for Climate Action Bristol 
• Understanding the impact of the Cabot Institute for the Environment, for example launching the Masters by Research in Global Environmental Challenges 
• Solidifying the Institution’s role as an international leader in climate research and innovation, and commitment to sustainability