Dear Participants
The conference committee warmly welcomes you to ALDcon25! First and foremost, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who contributed to making this year’s conference a reality. It is a genuine pleasure to chair this event alongside a dedicated committee of members from higher education institutions across the UK. I would like to extend a special thank you to the University of Greenwich and its committee members for graciously hosting this year’s conference on its historic campus.
This year, our main theme, focusing on currency, creativity, and innovation in Learning Development raises critical questions about learning developers’ approaches as we strive to stay current within the evolving higher education landscape. We will explore working practices while addressing essential issues of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We aim to examine the critical role of learning developers in ensuring that higher education functions effectively and demonstrates evidence-based impact, particularly in the context of emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing.
It is with great pleasure that I welcome our esteemed keynote speakers and panel members. We are honored to have Dr. Mark Carrigan joining us as our online keynote speaker, alongside Dr. Oonagh McGirr, who will be speaking in person and moderating a panel discussion. This panel will feature distinguished experts: Prof. Wendy Garnham, Dr. Richard Davies, Dr. Susan Bolt, Dr. Kevin Merry, and Mr. Jimmy Lo. Together, they will engage in meaningful discussions about the role of learning developers within higher education and explore how this role influences their relevance and standing in the field.
Our presenters are generously taking time out of their busy schedules to share their insights on a diverse range of topics. We are delighted to welcome a distinguished lineup from 76 local and international higher education institutions. Their cross-disciplinary expertise and varied backgrounds will undoubtedly enrich our discussions and enhance our learning experiences. We encourage you to engage and collaborate in your chosen sessions. For those with lingering thoughts, this year we are pleased to offer an Unconference space, allowing you to explore your ideas beyond our scheduled presentations.
Our conference delegates will be the cornerstone of this event. We eagerly anticipate coming together for inspiring discussions that will help our presenters broaden their horizons. It is a pleasure to have a shared space dedicated to learning and development. This conference serves as a vital platform that unites us annually, fostering engagement and connection among learning developers from diverse fields.
I encourage each of you to make the most of this unique opportunity. Engage actively, pose questions, and connect with your fellow attendees. Together, we can enhance our understanding and drive positive change in our respective areas.
Thank you for being here! I look forward to an inspiring conference!
Dr Raghda Zahran, Conference Chair
