Higher education plays a key role in the UK’s position of being a global leader in research and innovation. The Chancellor’s 2020 Research and Development Roadmap committed to a record increase in public investment in R&D of £22bn per year by 2024/25.  In July 2021 the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy launched the UK Innovation Strategy which aims to help recover from the pandemic by investing in innovation.  One of the key actions outlined in the strategy is to ensure that research, development and innovation institutions serve the needs of businesses and places across the UK.

Universities and colleges must respond and adapt to change such as the impact of the pandemic, Brexit and changing expectations from students by innovating in how they work.  They must celebrate and embed innovation across learning, teaching and assessment and ensure that the focus is on end-users – the students. 

This timely conference will draw upon a combination of high-level keynotes and practical case studies to explore a comprehensive range of themes encompassing innovation in higher education.