Welcome to AHEP
Time: 17:00-18:00
Location: Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU)

Join us for a warm and inclusive session at the AHEP Conference. Whether you’re a first-time attendee, new AHEP member, or simply seeking to expand your network, this session is designed to help you feel welcomed and connected within our vibrant community. Discover the resources, support, and opportunities available to you as a member of AHEP, and meet fellow professionals who share your passion for higher education.

Sunday Social
Time: from 18:00
Location: Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU)

This year, we are excited to host our pre-conference welcome event at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU). Join us for an evening of networking, where you can connect with fellow members from across the association. Enjoy a welcome drink and a two-course buffet. Stay tuned for more details on the evening’s entertainment

Registration and Refreshments
Time: 08:30
Location: Registration and Information Desk, GCU

Welcome Breakfast: Connect with AHEP Networks & Special Interest Groups
Time: 09:00 – 09:50
Location: GCU

Join us on Monday morning for a breakfast social hosted by AHEP’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and Regional Networks! Start your day with a light breakfast while connecting with colleagues from across the globe who share similar interests. Whether you’re looking to share insights, discuss trends, or simply make new connections, this informal gathering sets the tone for a productive day.

Welcome to GCU from Professor Steve Decent
Time: 09:50 – 10:00
Location: Conference Hall, Annie Lennox Building, GCU

Professor Steve Decent, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Glasgow Caledonian University

We are delighted to welcome Professor Steve Decent to kickstart the conference festivities with a short introduction to Glasgow Caledonian University before the opening keynote.

About Steve

Professor Steve Decent joined Glasgow Caledonian University as Principal and Vice-Chancellor in January 2023. 

Professor Decent also chairs Universities Scotland’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee. 

He joined Glasgow Caledonian from his position of Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Manchester Metropolitan University. Previously he was Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) and later Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Development) at Lancaster University, and Vice-Principal and Head of College of the College of Art, Science and Engineering at the University of Dundee. 

Having graduated with a BSc in Mathematics at Brunel University and a PhD at the University of St Andrews, Professor Decent moved to the University of Birmingham as a Research Fellow in 1995, followed by being a lecturer, before becoming Professor of Applied Mathematics and later the Head of School of Mathematics. He then took on the additional role of Director of Research and Knowledge Transfer in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. 

Professor Decent is a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, and specialises in research on free-surface flows, including liquid jets and water waves. He also has a keen interest in hydrogen fuel cells. 

Opening Keynote
Time: 10:15 – 10:45
Location: Conference Hall, Annie Lennox Building, GCU

Working Session One
Time: 10.55 – 11:55 
Location: Annie Lennox Building, GCU

Refreshment Break
Time: 11:55 – 12:15 
Location: Sir Alex Ferguson Library, GCU

Panel Session: Evolving Student Engagement: Sustaining the University Experience in a Changing Landscape followed by Annual Awards
Time: 12.15 – 13.15 
Location: Conference Hall, Annie Lennox Building, GCU

About this session

As student needs and expectations rapidly evolve, UK universities face a critical challenge: How can we adapt our engagement models to ensure sustainability while preserving the essence of the university experience? This is not just about responding to change—it’s about proactively shaping the future of higher education. 

This panel discussion brings together distinguished voices from across the tertiary sector to tackle this pivotal question. Our panellists—ranging from senior leaders to innovators on the front lines of student engagement—will explore how institutions can stay responsive and relevant in an era marked by unprecedented shifts in technology, student demographics, and societal expectations. 

Lunch
Time: 13:15 – 14:10 
Location: Sir Alex Ferguson Library, GCU

Working Session Two
Time: 14.15 – 15:15  
Location: Annie Lennox Building, GCU

Refreshment Break
Time: 15.15 – 15:35
Location: Sir Alex Ferguson Library, GCU

Closing Keynote
Time: 15:35 – 16:15
Location: Conference Hall, Annie Lennox Building, GCU

Conference Dinner
Time: from 19:00
Location: TBC

Join us on Monday evening for the conference dinner!

Our dress code encourages you to embrace both comfort and style. The goal is to create an atmosphere where you feel good, both in what you wear and the company you keep.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Keynote Session
Time: 09.30 – 10:15 
Location: Conference Hall, Annie Lennox Building, GCU

Working Session Three
Time: 10.25 – 11.25 
Location: Annie Lennox Building, GCU

Refreshment Break
Time: 11:25 – 11:45 
Location: Sir Alex Ferguson Library, GCU

Panel Session: Addressing challenges across the four nations: what can HEIs across the UK learn from each other to ensure their sustainability?
Time: 11:45 – 12:30 
Location: Conference Hall, Annie Lennox Building, GCU

About this session

As the higher education sector faces unprecedented challenges, the importance of sharing knowledge and collaborating across the UK’s four nations has never been more vital. This panel discussion will bring together representatives from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to explore how institutions can learn from one another and unite to ensure the sustainability of UK higher education. 

Our panellists will discuss how their institutions adapt to political and policy changes, address financial pressures, and develop innovative approaches to secure long-term sustainability. Each speaker will highlight the unique challenges and opportunities within their nation’s higher education sector and share practical examples of how their institutions respond to these evolving contexts. The discussion will focus on how successful initiatives can be adapted across borders and where the greatest opportunities for collaboration between the four nations lie. 

We are pleased to confirm the following speakers for this session:

Lynda Brady, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience) and University Secretary, Edge Hill University

About Lynda

Lynda is the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience) & University Secretary at Edge Hill University and has been in this role since April 2014. Her portfolio includes responsibility for Academic Registry, the Governance, Quality Assurance and Student Casework Unit, the Centre for Learning & Teaching, Directorate Office, Library and Learning Services and Student Services. 

Before joining Edge Hill, Lynda spent 12 years at the Open University (the OU) in a variety of roles. Between 2005 and 2011 she was Regional Director for the OU in the North West, leading the team responsible for supporting the OU’s 25,000 students studying in the region. From 2011 onwards, Lynda was Director of the Learner Support Service, an institution-wide role with responsibility for a range of information, advice and guidance and operational services to enable more than 200,000 students to achieve their study goals. 

Before joining the OU, Lynda worked for seven years at Liverpool John Moore’s University where she was a Principal Lecturer in Law and Head of the Legal Practice Course. 

Dr David Duncan, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Operations) and Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary, University of Glasgow

More about David coming soon!

Lunch
Time: 12:30 – 13:15 
Location: Sir Alex Ferguson Library, GCU

Working Session Four
Time: 13:15– 14:15 
Location: Annie Lennox Building, GCU

Keynote Session
Time: 14:30 – 15:05  
Location: Conference Hall, Annie Lennox Building, GCU