AHEP Annual Conference 2025 Call for Proposals

The theme for the AHEP Annual Conference and Exhibition 2025 is:

Is Higher Education, As We Know It, Sustainable?

The conference is taking place at Glasgow Caledonian University from Sunday, 1 June to Tuesday, 3 June 2025.

We are now inviting working session proposals! The deadline for proposal submission is has been extended and is now Monday, 30 September.

We are excited to invite you to submit your session proposals for the AHEP Annual Conference and Exhibition 2025 at Glasgow Caledonian University! This year, we are focusing on the theme “Is Higher Education, as We Know It, Sustainable?” We want your insights and experiences delivered to delegates through working sessions to help shape the answer to this crucial question. 

Please read the information on this call for proposals webpage before submitting your proposal. If you do have any questions, please get in touch with the team on events@ahep.ac.uk.

Why Submit a Proposal? 

Submitting a proposal offers a unique opportunity to engage deeply with the higher education community, share your insights, and drive forward-thinking discussions on the sustainability of our sector.

Discounted conference entry! Presenters and co-presenters (up to three per session) will attend the day they present for free and receive 50% off the full attendance package if attending the entire conference. Please note, this discount will be applied to the general sale fee, following the end of the early bird offer.

Showcase Your Expertise: Gain recognition and share your innovative ideas and best practices with peers from the higher education sector. 

Professional Development: Enhance your presentation and public speaking skills and receive valuable feedback to support your career growth. 

Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow higher education professionals, potential collaborators, and thought leaders in the field.

Contribute to the Sector: Play a key role in shaping discussions and solutions around the sustainability of higher education. 

Boost Your CV: Add a prestigious speaking engagement to your professional achievements, showcasing your commitment to advancing higher education. 

Engage with a Diverse Audience: Present to a diverse audience of professionals at all career stages, fostering broad discussions and perspectives. 

Influence Future Practices: Contribute to the collective knowledge and practices that drive sustainable approaches in higher education. 

Be Part of an Esteemed Event: Participate in a well-regarded annual conference known for its impactful sessions and dynamic atmosphere. 

Submit Your Proposal Today and Be Part of the Conversation 

Your session should align with this year’s conference theme, promote audience interaction, and prioritise inclusion and accessibility. Please read the information below before submitting your proposal. 

The deadline for proposal submission is: 

Midday on Monday, 30 September.

About the Conference

Session Format

Following delegate and speaker feedback from our 2024 conference, all working sessions will be 60 minutes long. In your proposal, you must be clear about how you will use the full 60 minutes to maximise delegate engagement. A range of session types can be delivered in this timeframe: 

Case Study: Describe a situation, invite solutions, relate to frameworks/theories, and encourage discussion. 

Facilitated Discussion: Pose questions for discussion. Panel or round-table formats work well. 

Game or Activity: Engage with trivia or problem-solving activities. 

Exploratory Workshop: Host a world café or brainstorming session. 

Wild Card: Be creative! We especially welcome innovative uses of campus space. 

The Submission Process 

What we’re looking for

Your proposal should: 

– Share the latest research and/or practical experiences in higher education. 

– Maximise audience engagement and interest. 

– Be complete, accurate, and clear. 

– Provide clear take-aways for participants. 

– Embed principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion. 

All proposals will be peer-reviewed. We especially encourage first-time presenters to submit!

Please note, the conference team may ask you to adjust your proposal to better fit the conference’s aims and theme to maximise your chance of selection. 

How to submit your proposal

Follow these steps to become a presenter: 

1. Review the guidance and submit your proposal by midnight on midday on Monday, 30 September.

2. If accepted, register for the conference, and collaborate with us to develop your session. 

3. Deliver your session at the Glasgow Caledonian University. 

4. Receive valuable feedback for your professional development. 

We aim to inform presenters of the outcome of their proposal submission by email within six weeks of the deadline of Sunday, 15 September.

The review panel

The review panel will expect your proposal to show how your session:  

– Includes the latest content that shares research and/or practical experiences of higher education professionals  

– Maximises engagement and interest from the audience  

– Is complete, accurate, and clear  

– Has clearly defined take-aways for participants  

– Embeds equality, diversity and inclusion  

Who can submit a proposal?

We welcome proposals from: 

– AHEP members 

– Non-members working as higher education professionals in higher and further education institutions or private providers 

– Higher education sector associations and bodies 

– Not-for-profit organisations from the UK and around the world 

When submitting a proposal, please clearly state if your session will be delivered in conjunction with, or supported by a corporate organisation or consultancy, or if your session is being used as consumer case study. Working with a corporate organisation or consultancy within your session may incur charges. 

Note: Corporate organisations and consultancy firms not affiliated to AHEP can participate as sponsors or exhibitors but cannot submit proposals.

Please contact events@ahep.ac.uk for sponsorship opportunities. 

Here are some key resources to help you get started: 

– Read the guidance notes for submitting your proposal 

– Download the template for drafting your abstract 

– Download the selection criteria that will be used to evaluate your proposal 

Keen to attend but unsure about how to approach your manager for support? We’ve prepared a draft email  for you to customise and send to your line manager, setting out why you should attend AHEP 2025.

Submit your proposal

Click here to complete the proposal submission form.

Proposal submission: Annual Conference 2025

  • Availability

  • Proposal Type

  • (maximum 30 words)
    (select one)
    All proposals MUST meet the commitment to 'Taking Sustainable Approaches'. Select a maximum of two others which most closely align with your proposal.
    (select one)
    (select one)
  • Lead presenter

    Complete this section for the main presenter. Additional presenters do not need to supply a biography. Please also note, corporate organisations and consultancy firms not affiliated to AHEP cannot submit proposals but can participate as sponsors or exhibitors. Please contact events@ahep.ac.uk for further information.
  • (max 150 words)
  • You will need a photo: closeup of face or head/shoulders, high-quality JPG or PNG format
  • Co-presenter(s)

    For each presenter, list their full name, email, phone, institution, job title. Maximum of two co-presenters.
  • Session proposal

  • Describe the content, format and purpose of your proposed session. How does your topic relate to the conference theme? Why is this topic important to you, your peers or the university?
  • Why will this topic be of interest to other professional staff? What will attract people to attend this conference session? What is the particular question, issue or idea you intend to address in this session?
  • Have you done research into this topic? Are you presenting a case study? What other steps have you taken to explore, investigate and test your ideas?
  • Provide a succinct statement of your conclusions. What did you learn from your investigations or experiences? What has changed as a result? What should (or could) happen next?
  • Learning Outcomes

  • What are three key things those attending your presentation will take away? By the end of the session, delegates will be able to…
  • What are three key things those attending your presentation will take away? By the end of the session, delegates will be able to…
  • What are three key things those attending your presentation will take away? By the end of the session, delegates will be able to…
  • Engagement and interaction

  • Outline the activities in your session with indicative timings – you must show the moderators how you will use 60 minutes.
  • Equity and diversity

  • see our guidance notes for advice. (maximum 200 words)
  • Accessibility and inclusion

  • Mention provisions for accessible materials, presentation formats, etc. (100 words maximum)
  • AV Requirements

  • (100 words maximum)

We look forward to receiving your proposals and shaping the future of higher education!