In-Person #ALDcon25 Conference Keynote Speaker
Oonagh is an experienced academic leader for international post-secondary education innovation. Currently, she holds the post of inaugural Director of the not-for-profit World Alliance for Microcredentials Foundation based in the Netherlands.
She has led university colleges in the UK and France and held the posts of Deputy Chief Executive for Learning and Teaching Services at Otago Polytechnic in New Zealand, Senior Adviser for Academic Innovation for Te Pukenga-New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology during the national Reform of Vocational Education, Director for the UNESCO-chaired Open Education Resource Universitas, a global not-for-profit delivering free education to learners around the globe, and Tertiary Education Advisor to the Ambassador for Ireland to Aotearoa-New Zealand. She led Learning and Teaching for Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design as a member of the UAL CLIP CETL (Creative Learning in Practice Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning) and founded the Teaching and Learning Development Unit for Bahrain Polytechnic. She is involved in global research on academic leadership for sustainable and equitable higher education, with a focus on inclusivity, innovation, and enhancement. Oonagh is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and an Associate of the World Federations of Colleges and Polytechnics.
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www.linkedin.com/in/oonaghmcgirr
Reflecting on the Critical Role of Learning Development in Higher Education
This keynote speech addresses the importance of Learning Development (LD) in higher education. It explores the evolution of LD as a global practice, highlighting some key milestones, myriad activities and essential skills involved in LD, whilst underscoring the manifold benefits for students, educators, and institutions. At a time of signposted imminent change and calls for transformation in UK higher education, the pivotal role of LD as a catalyst for positive change is addressed, in the context of successful initiatives and evidenced impact. I contend that Learning Development should be viewed as a capital investment for higher education, offering long-term benefits for all those engaged in the sector. Reflections on the cachet, currency, and unsung heroism of Learning Development professionals underscore the need for deserved recognition and sector-wide support. I conclude with a call to action for continued investment in Learning Development as critical for the future of a higher education sector which places learners and learning front and centre, at the heart of the HE mission.