Call for abstracts: UCT Teaching and Learning Conference

Dear colleagues and students

We are pleased to announce the call for abstracts for the University of Cape Town Teaching and Learning Conference, which will take place on 17 July 2018. Applications to submit proposals for this year’s conference are open until 26 April 2018. All UCT staff and students are welcome to attend the conference, which will be held at a UCT venue (to be announced at a later stage).

Conference theme

In the context of deep debates about the role of universities in shaping a future for all South Africans, this year’s conference is an opportunity to renew our vision and our practices. The theme of “Care, Connect, Create” extends an invitation to reignite our passion for student learning and success.

“Care involves more than good intentions” (Bozalek, 2014). This conference is an opportunity to go beyond good intentions, and following the work of Tronto (1993) to consider “everything that we do to maintain, continue, and repair our ‘world’ so that we can live in it as well as possible ... including our bodies, ourselves, and our environment, all of which we seek to interweave in a complex, life-sustaining web”. “Connect” reminds us that in relating there is strength, wisdom and support beyond our own, drawing us together from across departments, faculties and roles to inspire and challenge each other. “Create” urges us to respond to teaching and learning challenges in new ways, drawing on fresh perspectives and emerging practices to infuse our teaching and learning choices with social artistry to transform student experiences of learning.

Presentations and presenters

In addition to permanent staff members, we welcome submissions from contract staff, tutors, postdoctoral research fellows and postgraduates researching higher education. In your submissions, please consider the ways in which the theme speaks to issues such as curriculum development, engaged teaching, inclusion of student voices, open education practices and scholarship, technology integration and systemic change.

We would like participants to experience the conference as a caring and connected learning space, rich with expressions of creative research and practice. In designing your contribution, we encourage you to evoke engaging and stimulating interaction with your work. The inclusion of students as participants in your presentations is welcomed.

Important dates

• 1 April 2018 Submissions and registration open
• 26 April 2018 Submissions close
• 30 May 2018 Selected presenters are notified
• 18 June 2018 Programme is released
• 8 July 2018 Registrations close
• 17 July 2018 Conference day

If you are unsure about which conference presentation format to apply for, please contact the support team. They will be very happy to support you in making your choices.

• Learn more about the conference presentation formats...
• Register to present at the conference...
• Register to attend the conference...

We look forward to meeting you at the conference.

Kind regards

Associate Professor Lis Lange
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching & Learning

• Bozalek, V. G., McMillan, W., Marshall, D. E., November, M., Daniels, A., & Sylvester, T. (2014). Analysing the professional development of teaching and learning from a political ethics of care perspective. Teaching in Higher Education, 19(5), 447-458.
• Tronto, J. C. (1993). Moral boundaries: A political argument for an ethic of care. Psychology Press.

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements