More than 570 delegates have gathered in Sheffield this week for Advance HE's Teaching and Learning Conference 2026, Success by Design: The Future of Learning Now. Over three days, the conference is bringing together keynote addresses, around 300 workshops and sessions, and a series of poster presentations exploring how higher education can better support student success.
The conference opened with a welcome from Professor Mary Vincent, Vice President for Education at the University of Sheffield, who reflected on the city's civic university tradition and the enduring importance of giving students the confidence to engage, question and find their own learning style.
Alistair Jarvis CBE, Chief Executive of Advance HE, welcomed delegates from nineteen countries to the opening keynote, with particular thanks to overseas members and to the contributors who had shaped the conference programme.
"It's wonderful to welcome everyone to Sheffield this week, especially our overseas members, and to thank all those who have contributed to the programme," he said. "This conference is a real opportunity for us to reflect on enhancing our teaching and student support, to invest in our personal development, and to support our combined efforts to improve the student academic experience."
The opening keynote took the form of a conversation between Alistair Jarvis and Professor Edward Peck CBE, Chair of the Office for Students (OfS). Edward Peck argued that the introduction of tuition fees fundamentally changed the relationship between the sector and students, parents and politicians, creating expectations of a more personalised and supportive experience. He noted that campus universities remain valued as safe and supportive environments where young people can mature, build confidence and form lasting connections with those around them.
He suggested that the rise of artificial intelligence and new ways of learning without a constant human presence makes the social and communal benefits of campus life more important than ever, while also requiring institutions to adapt how they design courses and support students.
Edward Peck also addressed the financial pressures facing the sector, the opportunities and risks of widening access, and the emergence of new providers with different models of delivery. He spoke about the OfS’s evolving approach, describing a shift towards what he termed confident humility following the Sussex judgment, and outlined an ambition for the regulator to take on a greater stewardship role in protecting subject provision and supporting institutions through periods of change.
Looking ahead, he called for universities to build around the student journey, to make academic content and student experience of equal value, and to make far greater use of real time data and analytics to understand and respond to student needs.
Following the keynote, delegates took the opportunity to join the many sessions delivered throughout the day:
The conference continues over the coming days, with delegates taking part in workshops and sessions addressing many of the themes raised in the opening keynote.
Enhancing teaching and learning in higher education
The quality of teaching in higher education has never been more important. We provide access to a wide range of resources to help institutions evolve their approach to teaching and learning, so it not only addresses their own strategic priorities, but also meets the changing needs and expectations of students.