Pedagogy And The Academy Today

Our academic inter-disciplinary theme raises the debate about 'Teaching and Learning in Higher Education' which has, in recent years, become outdated in a time of rapid change. This one-day event, held on the cusp of the new academic year, re-focuses the debate upon more philosophical, reflective and less moralising approaches to classical pedagogy, putting these at the heart of good teaching practice today:

• Can teaching thrive, given the political impact of research pressure on the academy?


• How is the academy managing the changes imposed on early career researchers, which derive from a scientific model not always appropriate for the Humanities and Social Sciences?


• Post- REF, how will the academy facilitate excellence in scholarly teaching and learning as well as in scholarly research, especially in the light of expectations raised by tuition fees?


• These changes inspire questions of not just how do we teach, but why do we teach?


• What help can we expect from the academy as we respond to the increasing diversity of student cohorts?


• How do we evaluate the global rise and popularity of on-line remote learning and teaching in the Humanities?


• Will face-to-face teaching gradually disappear? Is this what students want? 

If you are starting out in academia, are between contracts, or want a pause for thought in a climate where there is often 'no time to think or listen', this event is a chance to network with other teachers and researchers sharing your aims and challenges.

Free food and refreshments are provided throughout the day, alongside some wonderful music from leading contemporary performers.

There's an opportunity to attend free careers workshops from leading practitioners and consultants in the Humanities and Social Sciences, chat over lunch, or to give a 20-minute paper on your current research in a supportive environment.

Join the conversation. We look forward to meeting you.

Organisers:

• Dr Caroline Blyth, University Research Associate, Clare Hall Cambridge ([email protected])


• Dr Susan Townsend, Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Nottingham ([email protected])   

BA Champion: Professor Emeritus Jim Reed FBA, The Queen's College, Oxford ([email protected])

PANEL:

• Steve Joy (Postdoc Careers)


• Sharon Saunders (Personal and Professional Development)


• Colin Burrow (English)


• Paul Harris (Music)


• Jan Parker (Comparative Classics)


• Jim Reed (Modern Languages)


• Marianne Talbot (Philosophy)

CALL FOR PAPERS

If you are an early-career researcher wishing to give a paper, please email your abstract of 250 words, stating your name, contact details, broad subject in the Humanities (e.g. English, History), specific topic (e.g. title of your paper) to [email protected] as soon as possible and you will be contacted with a decision by 8 September 2014. If you are a current British Academy PDF please make this clear when you contact us. You do not need to be a BA PDF to give a paper. We welcome abstracts from across the UK early-career researcher community outside London.

Any queries should be addressed to Dr Townsend via email.

Please note that a limited amount of papers may be published in November 2014 in our conference proceedings.

REGISTRATION

Early registration is advised and places are available on a 'first come first served' basis.

RESERVE LIST

We will operate a reserve list including, in the event of last-minute cancellations, the offer of a handful of places up to 24 hours before the day of the conference. If you do register (see 'How to Register') and, for whatever reason, you cannot attend on the day please email the Conference Office at Queen's College, Oxford asap ([email protected]) so your place may be offered to another delegate at short notice.

HOW TO REGISTER

To register, please email [email protected] stating 'Oxford Conference Registration' as the subject of your email. The conference is cost-free to all delegates, whatever their status, including lunch and refreshments. A vegetarian option is available. Please state any particular dietary requirements in your email and indicate if you have any special requests regarding disabled access arrangements or related issues. Every possible assistance will be given to enable delegates to attend.

We cannot subsidise travel expenses but getting to Oxford is relatively inexpensive and details about the relevant stops for coach and rail services are given in the attached schedule.

If you are a FBA who wishes to attend the whole or part of the day please email Jim Reed on [email protected], copied to [email protected].