As UVAC celebrates a quarter of a century of championing higher level vocational learning we are delighted to now share the programme for this year’s UVAC National Conference.*

The UVAC Conference is once again a hybrid event on Wednesday, 6 November 2024;  join us in person at the ICC, Birmingham or online.

Our theme is Back to the future in higher technical and professional education and skills, and we have a programme featuring a range of informative and engaging talks, presentations including:

• 6  keynote speakers
• 2 whole conference workshops
• 12 breakout workshops

MORNING SESSION

Breakfast, Exhibition and Networking

Welcome – UVAC Chair and Dr Mandy Crawford-Lee Chief Executive –

MORNING KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS

The plan for skills in the West Midlands/national economy including the need for progression pathways into the professions for all types of learners

Richard Parker, Metro Mayor for West Midlands

Force for Impact: a report on the impact of Manchester Metropolitan University’s degree apprenticeships for apprentices, employers and the wider economy.

Liz Gorb MBE , Director of Apprenticeships, Manchester Metropolitan University

Keynote Theme TBC

Prof Deborah Johnson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, London South Bank University

WHOLE CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS FROM HEADLINE SPONSORS

Learning needs assessment in apprenticeships

Aptem

Panel Discussion – Addressing the Challenges in Delivering Degree Apprenticeships

The Skills Federation

BREAKOUT WORKSHOP SESSIONS

There are 3 breakout sessions across the day, offering you a choice of 4 workshops. There’s no need to book ahead just attend the ones you want to on the day. 

How to attract and engage Employers to recruit apprenticeships

Susanna Lawson – Co-founder OneFile Ltd

A practical application of AI: a structured way to explore enhancements to the UVAC website and knowledge base using a custom Generative AI solution to provide immediate contextualised natural language responses

Phil Sanders, Co-Founder & Commercial Director, Instro AI Solutions, Director of PS EdTech consultancy practice.

When worlds collide – the realities of managing triple regulation in degree apprenticeships

Adam Greenwood and Dr Rihana Ishaq, Leeds Beckett University

Degree Apprentices for all – Reflections on Recruitment and Practice for diverse learners.

Sam Moorwood, Sheffield Hallam University and Charlynne Pullen, Principal Research Fellow, Sheffield Hallam University

Mainstreaming International Best Practice: Developing Skills Excellence 

WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence in partnership with NCFE

Managing the accountability framework risks – practical advice on strengthening your position

David Lockhart-Hawkins  and Tim Chewter, Strategic Development Network (SDN)

Financial viability of Degree Apprenticeships

Associate Professor Rachael Johnstone, Dean of Professional Education and Partnerships & Director of the Centre for Degree Partnerships, University of Exeter and Dan Hallam, Head of Degree Apprenticeships at the University of Exeter

Recognising Prior Experiential Learning (in degree apprenticeships): New ways of thinking – Why we should, why we aren’t, and how we could be doing it.

Helen Pokorny (University of Hertfordshire), Dr Sarah Bloomfield (The Open University), Dr Joanna Booth (Nottingham Trent University), Victoria Rosamond (University of Derby) and Dr Trevor A. Brown (Manchester Metropolitan University).

Advancing Technical Careers: The Role of T Level Industry Placements in Higher Education

Joanne Hartley-Metcalfe, Universities T Level Support Manager, UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy

How to support the development of digital competencies in HE professionals

Breda Leyne, Alex Sloan, Rob Allison

Professions and higher-level apprenticeships

Dr Stan Lester, Stan Lester Developments & UVAC Associate

Degree Apprenticeships in England: what can we learn from the experiences of apprentices, employers and HE providers?

Dr Andrea Laczik; Katherine Emms; Dr Joshua Patel, The Edge Foundationn

AFTERNOON KEYNOTES FROM

Keynote Theme TBC

Ben Blackledge, CEO, WorldSkills UK

Keynote Theme TBC

Alistair Wilson, Head of Student Pathways and Progression, Office for Students

The ‘Big Listen’ Learnings: potential changes and inspection outcomes in HE

Kerry Boffey, Founder, Fellowship of Inspection Nominees (FIN)

Your Invitation to Celebrate 25 years of UVAC

Dr Mandy Crawford-Lee will be closing the conference sessions at 5pm, after which delegates are invited to join the UVAC team for a drinks reception until 6pm, to celebrate UVAC’s 25 years as the most authoritative voice on all strategic and operational aspects of higher and degree apprenticeships and higher level technical and professional education and skills

You can book your tickets now HERE or find out more about attending in our FAQs.

*This agenda is subject to change and changes may occur up until the start of the conference