Teaching, Learning and Inclusivity Conference | News

September 2025

Inclusivity for all at heart of annual teaching and learning conference

By Melanie Hall

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Creating an inclusive environment for all was this year's theme of an annual conference that gives University College Birmingham academics and support staff the chance to share ideas on making higher education even more empowering.

Held across the McIntyre and Moss House campuses, the Learning, Teaching and Inclusivity Conference 2025 was an eye-opener into best practice, reimagining what inclusive education looks like and ensuring every learner has the opportunity to thrive.

Keynote speakers included Dr Elliott Spaeth, Senior Consultant in Inclusive Education, Advance HE, who looked into how learning, teaching and assessment could be made as inclusive as possible.

This included designing flexibly, adjusting for students with different needs and psychological safety in the classroom, with other key insights shared by guest speaker Oba Akinwale from Loud Speaker.

The talks prompted lots of debate and tips shared between academics and their peers. Lecturer Salil Colge shared a key piece of advice on being more inclusive. "Think big - move around the lecture theatre, shift perspectives and draw students in," he said. "Movement not only keeps them engaged and alert, it also helps quieter students to open up."

Lecturers Rochelle Maynard and Shazia Iqbal talked disability planning and working with the dedicated team to recognise and recommend support, staying open in tutorials to understand what students really need.

The importance of reaching out on LinkedIn to academics across countries, disciplines and cultures to widen perspectives and enrich teaching and tapping into how other departments did things, for example, the Business School's personal tutor system, were also subjects of interest.

Tsai Lovett, Deputy Dean for Teaching, Learning and Digital, said the day of talks, interactive workshops, poster presentations and a networking marketplace, was invaluable.

"We have an increasingly diverse student population so need to ensure our approaches do equally support all our students to thrive," she said. "It's about creating psychologically safe learning spaces that are designed with our students in mind, acknowledging we can’t know for sure what works for everyone, so being prepared to be flexible and compassionate and building compassion into processes and cultures."

Alumni also got to offer their input over the day. Culinary Arts Management BA (Hons) alumnus Oliver Grieve said: “For students, it’s about preparing for the worst while hoping for the best - resilience comes from balancing both."

Alumni Angelina Adamo, who studied Professional Level 2 and 3 and now has her own private chef company, Tutto Apposto, said: "As an alumni student and employer, I see how important it is for students to be flexible during their placements and make themselves available for the full experience - especially in sectors like the restaurant sector.

"At the same time, being a female entrepreneur is difficult, but it is getting better. We need to prepare students and work together to continue breaking down barriers.”

The day-long conference was also the chance for academic and professional staff to learn more about the University's new 2025-2030 Teaching and Learning Strategy.