NETworking & Innovation in Healthcare Education Conference

While the NET Conference name remains as a legacy, and many still associate NET with nurse education, the conference now attracts a broad range of allied healthcare professionals. As such, the conference name has been revised to include the emphasis on the broader healthcare sector while emphasising the two most fundamental areas of the conference ethos – networking and innovation. Henceforth, the conference will be known as the NETworking & Innovation in Healthcare Education Conference.

In 2022, we introduced the theme of ‘Belonging’ as the overarching theme of the conference, which created enhanced synergies and connections and allowed for meaningful, in-depth discussions. Building on the success of NET2022, future conferences will focus on a theme that resonates with the sector, to which keynotes, panel sessions and conference sub-themes will all be aligned. The theme for the 2023 conference has been selected as Empowering a successful learning journey.

To allow for a positive in-person experience, the 2023 conference will be delivered as a full in-person, three-day, immersive experience. However, as many found the virtual and hybrid conference modes allowed for greater access, flexibility and reduced fees, every second year the conference will be delivered virtually using Advance HE’s virtual conference suite.

While the conference’s model of longer theme sessions allows themes to be discussed in great depth, delegate feedback highlighted the need for variety and flexibility within the programme, and a greater distinction between the types of session on offer. The 2023 conference will include the following session types: 

• Oral presentations for themed sessions 

• Roundtable sessions 

• Lightning talks 

• Posters 

For 2023, we are simplifying the submission process, as feedback from presenters indicated that this was overly complicated and time consuming. As such, we are removing the prescriptive section headings and reducing the indicated word count for submissions. However, submissions should still include reference to current literature and thinking, and a section for references will still form part of the submission form.

NETworking & Innovation in Healthcare Education (NET) is the leading, international conference for healthcare educators across a range of disciplines. It provides a unique opportunity to engage with the latest evidence, developments and thinking in healthcare education, alongside educators, learners, practitioners and researchers from across the UK and beyond.

Originally launched as an annual, UK conference for nursing and midwifery educators in 1990, NET has become a well-established, annual event with increasing numbers of global delegates. Over the decades we’ve continued to innovate, welcoming ever-rising numbers of students as presenters and participants, including keynote presentations. We have also seen a steady growth in the number of delegates from a range of healthcare professions, including counselling, dentistry, dietetics, general practice medicine, occupational therapy, oncology, paramedic medicine, pharmacy, physiotherapy, psychology, radiography, radiology, speech and language therapy, and veterinary surgery. These developments continue to enrich conference discussions and debates, and stimulate the cross-fertilisation of ideas, adding invaluable insights, understanding, and learning from each other.

“As one of the student presenters, I was very excited to be a representative for the Physician Associate programme and be an ambassador for the profession on a global educational platform” (NET2021).

Networking is at the heart of every conference, which provides a supportive, friendly, and engaging environment for all delegates, particularly for new presenters, to ensure that this important rite of passage is a positive and rewarding experience. In the words of recent delegates, NET is:

‘such an inclusive, collegial and welcoming conference’;

‘a vibrant event with a good buzz about it’

 ‘as a new presenter and first-time delegate, I felt supported and inspired’;

‘there was an air of positivity and joy’. 

Enabling success through recruitment and admissions, learning design and delivery 

This theme will consider how, as educators, we facilitate the journey from the very first engagement with prospective learners. How do we ensure that our recruitment, enrolment and induction processes, and the transition onto a programme of learning, are designed to maximise retention and success for all? Abstracts submitted under this theme could also address enhancements made to the design and delivery of the curriculum, including innovative approaches to teaching and learning in diverse healthcare settings, and how these have impacted on the journey to success.

Enabling success through belonging and learner engagement  

This theme will focus on how we build and embed a genuine sense of belonging and identity throughout the journey of every learner. This is crucial not just in the classroom or online, but also while on placements and learning in the workplace. Learner engagement is so much more than just turning up and being present. We must place learners at the centre of our thinking and plans, in order to ensure an excellent experience throughout their learning journey.

Enabling success through learner support  

This theme will consider how we ensure the journey to learner success continues throughout the period of study, considering the support provided within and outside of the classroom and/or the online environment.

Innovating to develop the future healthcare workforce  

This theme will consider how we prepare pre-registration students for the world of work and ensure they understand the routes to employment available to them, and how we encourage part-time students already in employment to consider their career progression and potential development opportunities.

Full details regarding the conference themes can be found in the call for submissions.

Deadline for submission: midnight, Monday 26 June 2023.

Submissions will be welcomed under any of the above conference sub-themes (more details available in the Call for submissions document) for the following session types:

• Oral presentations for themed sessions: submissions for oral presentations should relate to either research studies or innovation projects undertaken or in progress at your institution;
• Roundtable presentations;
• Lightning talks;
• Posters.

Submission process

Abstracts should be submitted to our online site at: https://advance-he.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/net2023-submissions.

On the online form you will be asked for the following:

• Acceptance of Advance HE’s Privacy policy.
• Acceptance of the conference submission terms and conditions – please read these carefully.
• Contact details for the main session presenter and any co-presenters of the session.
• A 100-word promotional abstract of your session for marketing purposes only. This section will not be included for review by our Scientific Panel and as such should not be perceived as an introductory or background statement for your submission.
• The type of session you are submitting (Oral presentation for themed session, Roundtable presentation, Lightning talk, or Poster).
• The theme to which your session most closely aligns.
• A summary of your proposed session, with a maximum word count of 500 words. Summaries should include: background to your research or innovation or why an issue should be raised for debate (including positioning within current literature or recent trends and any international relevance); research methodology (research papers only); key findings from your research or innovation; what lessons conference delegates will learn from your session; why this topic is relevant to the healthcare sector.
• Full references for all citations included in your submission, in full Harvard style.
• Five keywords relating to your session (to assist with scheduling the conference programme)
• Any additional requirements needed for the delivery of your session or to assist with any access needs.