Festival of Learning

The University of Gloucestershire’s Festival of Learning

The annual summer Festival of Learning at the University of Gloucestershire brings together academic and professional services staff with post-graduate researchers and students to celebrate and share good practice and innovation in learning and teaching across our institution and partners. The event, which focuses on a different theme each year, is free and open to all staff who teach or support student learning. 

Beginning as a one day, on-campus event in 2017, the Festival has grown in popularity to comprise two/three inspiring days of presentations, lightning talks, poster displays, and keynotes from internal and external contributors, delivered in a blended format. Over the duration of each Festival, delegates are able to build their own programme of engagement to fit in with their existing commitments. 

The Festival is participative and inclusive, bringing together contributions from different disciplines, schools, departments and areas of practice. Participants from all career stages demonstrate practical tools and methods for delivery, take part in lively discussion, and collaboratively question what works, what might need to change, and what new possibilities lie ahead for the University of Gloucestershire community. The ultimate aim of the Festival is to positively impact on student learning and outcomes. 

You can access information and resources for past and future Festivals by clicking the appropriate link at the top right-hand side of this page. If you have any questions about the Festival, please email fol@glos.ac.uk. 

We look forward to seeing you at the next Festival of Learning. 

The Academic Development Unit (ADU)

Colleagues who have attended previous Festivals have found them to be inspiring and beneficial to informing their practice: 

‘I absolutely loved the Festival and really appreciated the opportunity to participate. Thank you to everyone who put it together – I thought it was a really carefully curated event. It’s reignited my passion for my job and for learning.’

‘The Festival of Learning was an opportunity for me to have time to stop, pause, think and be re-energised by like-minded fellow academics. It was a chance for me to focus on some critical thinking and it reminded me of why I came into higher education in the first place. I felt very encouraged!’ 

‘Really useful practical suggestions with many helpful examples, and good interaction with a diversity of participants.’   

‘The sessions were directly informative to practice allowing me to view challenges from a diversity of perspectives. It is excellent to see how colleagues are facing challenges and/or making opportunities in their contexts in order to gain new ideas.’ 

‘The opening keynote speech was inspirational and valuable.’ 

‘I really valued the chance to hear different perspective on pedagogy and to network with other members of the university. I appreciated the ability to drop into sessions.’ 

‘It made me feel that there is a new network of support available to me, and this will help me to reach my goals.’