Conference 2026

Supporting student success in a time of challenge and change

The 6th annual City of Glasgow College Learning & Teaching conference will take place at City Campus on Tuesday 20th January 2026. The conference's main theme explores how tertiary education can evolve to meet the needs of a diverse and changing student population. It brings together practitioners to share strategies for fostering student success through inclusive support, responsive pedagogies and future-focused innovation.

The conference committee invite expressions of interest for sessions focussed on one of 4 sub-themes:

Inclusion and belonging – widening access, accessibility, elevating the student voice, diverse communities.
The changing learner – anticipating diversity, recognising the ‘whole student’, trauma informed practice, Universal Design for Learning.
Employability – industry-preparedness, creative approaches to developing metaskills, embedding employer partnerships, igniting citizenship.
Supporting successful outcomes – exploring retention, developing flexible learning pathways, responsive pedagogies, students as partners.

Invited formats include:

Presentations (15 or 25 minutes with 5 minutes for Q & A).
Workshops (50 minutes).
Poster.
Lightning talk (5 minutes).

Programme

9.30 - 10.00: Welcome and opening: Dr Paul Little

10.00 - 10.50: Keynote: Darren McGarvey

10.50 - 11.10: Break

11.15 – 12.15: Parallel sessions 1

12.15 - 12:55: Lunch

13.00 - 13.40: Panel

13.45- 14.45: Parallel sessions 2

14.50 - 15.00: Close (& refreshments)

Keynote address: Darren McGarvey

This year’s theme, Supporting Student Success in a time of Challenge and Change, will be explored through a full programme of sessions, and we are pleased to confirm Darren McGarvey as our keynote speaker.

Darren, author of Poverty Safari and Trauma Industrial Complex, is widely respected for his work on social inequality, community experience, and the realities facing working-class families.

Discussion panel

As well as delivering our keynote address in the morning, we are delighted that Darren will join our afternoon discussion panel to consider insights and perspectives on supporting students success from across the sector.

Our other warmly welcomed panel members are:

Vikki Hill, Director of Learning Enhancement and Academic Development, Queen Margaret University

Dr Paula Christie, Head of Delivery & Engagement, College Development Network

Eve Lewis, Director, sparqs

Submit your proposal

Please use this form to submit a brief abstract (approx 150 words) and indicate your preferred session format. Submissions close at 5pm on Monday 8th December and presenters will be notified of the outcome of their proposal by Friday 19th December.

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