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Registration now open for this year’s BILT Conference
You can now register for this year’s BILT Conference, Student-Centred By Design.
We’re returning to The Victoria Rooms on Wednesday 1 July for another full day of keynotes, workshops, presentations, stalls and posters from staff and students across the University and beyond.
Image from last year’s conference
The conference examines how higher education can more meaningfully recognise and empower students as active partners in learning. It explores practical approaches to valuing students’ prior experiences, their contributions to learning communities, and the creation of responsive learning environments that support diverse needs. The conference themes foreground student agency and choice, offering insights into what matters to students, what motivates them, and how learning can be designed to foster genuine ownership. Key themes include:
- Active learning – considering how inclusive and effective active learning can be embedded within teaching and curriculum design to engage, motivate, and support all learners.
- Inclusive assessment – exploring how assessment can move beyond marks and grades to become more authentic, relevant, and connected to students’ lives and aspirations.
- Generative AI in education – examining how human judgement, creativity, and academic practice evolve alongside AI, and how these tools can enhance rather than undermine meaningful learning.
Overall, the conference invites participants to rethink teaching, learning, and assessment in ways that ensure students genuinely matter in everyday educational practice.
This year’s conference highlights:
- 2 keynote presentations
- 3 Workshops (up to 60 minutes each)
- 26 presentations (15 minutes each), grouped by topic
- 4 stalls open throughout the day
- Poster gallery open throughout the day
- Refreshments throughout the day & buffet lunch
- Pre-conference randomised coffee chat
For more information and registration links visit the event page.
An interview with… Sheena Warman
We interviewed Sheena Warman, (Professor of Veterinary Education and Academic Director for Teaching Excellence in the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences) about the process of becoming a Principal Fellow and she shares an honest account of what she learnt, how it helped her practice and the aspects that were challenging.
If you’re interested in becoming a Principal Fellow, please come along to the in-person workshop at Frenchay Campus (UWE) on 23rd April. You can see more details and register via this link.
Click to read a short transcript of the interview.
Pedagogical Research Workshop review
Last month BILT co-hosted a workshop with some of the BILT Associate Project holders, on ‘Developing a pedagogic research proposal’, where colleagues from across the University came together to discuss the top tips on the journey through pedagogical research. The workshop sparked vibrant discussion about the process of educational research and participants’ own emerging ideas. There were some interesting questions around the topics colleagues were engaged in researching, the ethics process, as well as the more logistical issue of making time for this in everyday schedules. Conversations were open, reflective and energising with colleagues sharing challenges and insights drawn from diverse teaching contexts and disciplines. Most colleagues ended the session with a draft of their own pedagogical proposal and action points of where to go next.
Last minute reminder: Voice and Presence workshop tomorrow
The Bristol Improv Theatre are back to repeat their BILT Voice and Presence workshop tomorrow (22 April), in The Reception Room of Wills Memorial Building. There are still some places available if you’re looking for practical techniques for training and strengthening your speaking voice, projection, warming-up, body language and using authenticity to tap into your inner charisma.
Image taken at January’s workshop.
If you can’t make it tomorrow, the session will be repeated for a third and final time in June. More information and booking links for both sessions can be found here.
Blogs and resources
- AI for education: a snapshot of Bristol Staff’s AI usage
Jessica Irving reports on the 2025 University-wide survey, designed to better understand how AI tools are being used by staff in the University of Bristol. - Using GenAI to Structure a Unit and Design Seminar Activities
We introduce a series of case studies derived from our BILT Associate Project: Staff Adoption of Generative in teaching. This case study is compiled by Dr Claire Hudson, but informed by an interview with a colleague in the Business School - 1st to 2nd year transitions
BILT’s Amy Palmer and Fiona Hartley bring us an update on their longitudinal study focusing on students learning journeys from their first to their final year. - Simple Ways That Generative AI Can Support Assessment Design
Dr Claire Hudson continues a series of case studies derived from a BILT Associate Project: Staff Adoption of Generative AI in Teaching. These examples are suitable for staff with very limited GenAI experience. - New Case Study Series: Education For Sustainability Development
A series of 7 case studies, compiled by student sustainability advocate, Ritah Pavin Nakanjako (Cabot Institute for the Environment), looking at how sustainability is included in various programs across 7 schools. At present, 6 of the 7 have been published:
Events
Visit the BILT events calendar for a full list of all our forthcoming events
Voice and Presence: skills for active and inclusive teaching [in-person]
Choose from two dates: 22 April and 9 June
Following some hugely popular workshops in January and February, The Bristol Improv Theatre are back to repeat their Voice and Presence workshop, in April and June. They will explore tools from acting and public speaking to help practice engaging listeners. This includes practical techniques to train and strengthen your speaking voice, projection, warming-up, body language and using authenticity to tap into your inner charisma. Please note, these workshops are open to all but in the unlikely event they reach capacity, priority will be given to anyone teaching at TQEC.
Full details can be found on this page.
Show, Tell and Talk: Inclusive Assessment [in-person]
29 April @ 1:30 pm – 3.00 pm, Room 1.06, Queens Building
This sharing innovations workshop will provide an opportunity to hear from a range of colleagues about how inclusive assessment is being embedded at UoB, why it is important and what Inclusive Assessment projects, supported by BILT, are being undertaken at the University. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion with colleagues.
Full details can be found on this page.
Supporting Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Schools [in-person]
7 May @ 12:00 pm – 1.30 pm, Room 3.30 Wills Memorial Building
How can your School champion the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and pedagogic research? How can SoTL help you enhance student learning, outcomes, and satisfaction? And how can you empower colleagues to get involved? Join us for an interactive session exploring how Schools can build vibrant, sustainable cultures of SoTL.
Full details can be found on this page.
The BILT Briefing is published and distributed fortnightly by The Bristol Institute of Learning and Teaching (BILT). If you no longer wish to receive a copy of The Briefing, please send an email to bilt-info@bristol.ac.uk from the address you are registered with, containing the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the title line.
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