New seminar series to strengthen collaboration between educators in the UK

Making a difference on a shoestring will be the topic of the first in a new series of free seminars which aims to boost the future of the colleges, universities and communities across the country.

Jason Lancaster, Principal and CEO of Northampton College will kick off the series at 11:30am on Monday 26 January with an online seminar and Q&A entitled, ‘Getting things done with limited resources,’ exploring the universal challenge of making impact despite resource constraints.

Alice Wilby, UON’s Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education and Student Experience will chair the seminars and said: “The higher education sector faces significant challenges, from financial pressures to increasing demands for regional collaboration.

“These seminars will explore what universities can learn from schools and colleges, drawing on expertise from practitioners who work in those settings every day.

“The goal is to spark new ideas, foster partnerships, and strengthen the educational ecosystem for the benefit of students and communities.”

She added: “I’m particularly pleased Jason Lancaster will be kicking-off this series which is symbolic of the tripartite Futureskills agreement between UON, Northampton College and Moulton College which puts Northants at the forefront of collaboration between further and higher education.”

Jason added: “For many years, the further education sector has had to deal with complex funding and budgeting shortfalls. This ongoing challenge has forced us to be creative with how we spend our allocation to ensure the best possible outcomes for our students. Operating under such restrictions, in a tough economic climate, is no easy task.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to share more about how this has enabled us to showcase our resilience while leading from the front in making the most out of every penny given to us, maximising efficiency and putting a real emphasis on value.”

The first seminar will also include contributions from Cathy Barr, the Deputy CEO of Advantage Schools and CEO of the The Shared Learning Trust, and Julia Kedwards, OBE  Chief Executive Officer, Northampton Primary Academy Trust.

The second seminar in the series is entitled ‘Play and Creativity in Pedagogy and is set to take place between 11:30am and 1pm on Monday 2 March.

The third will take place between the same times on Friday 13 April and is entitled ‘Supporting SEND Students and Pupils.’

Future seminars with dates to be confirmed, will cover themes such as:

• Working with communities
• Teacher development
• Managing transitions into education
• Skills and employability

The seminars will be of particular benefit to staff from higher education institutions, schools, colleges, and anyone involved in education policy or strategy. To join the first seminar, register for free via MS Teams.