Educationalists, lecturers and researchers from across the Republic meet in IT Sligo tomorrow (Fri December 6) to explore a familiar challenge– how to help students maintain maximum involvement and interest in their college studies.
Institute of Technology Sligo is hosting the International Conference on Engaging Pedagogy (ICEP), which brings together representatives from universities, institutes and independent colleges to discuss means and methods of improving student engagement.
Dr Brendan McCormack, Registrar, IT Sligo, opens the conference and around 100 representatives are expected. It is the first time that the annual ICEP event is being held at IT Sligo. Extending a warm welcome to all the participants, Dr McCormack says he is delighted that the conference is being held in Sligo this year.
Themed “The Voice of the Educators”, it aims to enable lecturers in Higher Education address, discuss and understand their roles in recognising and responding to current educational challenges.
Keynote addresses, workshop and panel discussions will span a wide range of issues. They include flexibility in provision of study programmes, bridging the gap between theory and practice, teaching in the digital age, learners as initiators and innovators, student work placement, engagement with industry and community, needs of first-time away from home students in a third-level setting, inclusive learning and the impact of policy on teaching.
The conference is organised by IT Sligo and Griffith College, Dublin
“It is an honour for IT Sligo to host this prestigious and influential conference,” says joint organiser Stephanie Donegan, Education Development and Quality Manager at IT Sligo. “Educators are pivotal to society’s development and well-being. The conference will be a valuable platform for sharing experience, studying new approaches and learning new lessons.”
Joint organiser Fiona O’Riordan, Head of the Centre for Promoting Academic Excellence, at Griffith College, said: “We are very excited about this year’s conference. The calibre of papers is very strong and the variety is vast. We are particularly pleased to be collaborating with IT Sligo on this venture.”
