2026 Staff Summit Breaking Barriers, Building Futures
Day 1 - Monday 21 September Networking Tea, coffee, information stalls and merchandise!
9am - 9.30am
Opening the Staff Summit 2026
9.30am - 10.15am
Our Focus ‘Breaking Barriers, Building Futures’ Official Launch Keynote: Damien Page
GLT
Programme Outline Mohammed Yakub and Zahara Chowdhury
10.30am - 11.30am
11.45am - 12.45pm
The Human Advantage: Career-Ready Skills in an AI-Powered Future
Building Futures and Creating Teaching Excellence: The New Assessment and Feedback Policy
Building futures and creating Teaching Excellence: The New Observation Policy
S3.02a&b
Willow
GLT
Dr Russel Stone
Dr Nicola Shephard
Paula Han
Managing Mental Resilience in Challenging Times
Building Futures and Creating Teaching Excellence: The New Assessment and Feedback Policy
Building Futures and Creating Teaching Excellence: The New Observation Policy
S3.02a&b
Willow
GLT
David Beeny
Dr Nicola Shephard
12.45pm -1.45pm
1.45pm - 2.45pm
Lunch -
Breaking barriers with finance: Expenses, Purchase Orders & Beyond
MS TEAMS (Online)
Tracey Bate, Veronica Fatemi, Sophie Mamoun Building The Future of Talent Development Cornerstone: Your Hub for Learning, Growth and Career Development at Bucks MS TEAMS (Online) Akvile Darulyte, Nicky Wilson and Stephen Shearing
Paula Han
Atrium
“The Career Game: Using game-based methodology to critically consider the effectiveness of targeted career initiatives”
Breaking Barriers with Finance: Expenses, Purchase Orders & Beyond
Building Futures with Bucks’ Educational Evaluation Framework
Beyond Metrics: Crafting a Compelling REF Story
S3.02a (max 24 people)
S3.02b
Willow
GLT
Tracey Bate, Veronica Fatemi, Sophie Mamoun
Dr Zehui Yang
Prof. Arinola Adefila
Building Futures and Creating Teaching Excellence: The New Assessment and Feedback Policy
MS TEAMS (Online)
Dr Kate Carruthers Thomas (Birmingham City University) Note: this is a 2 hour workshop from 1.45pm to 3.45pm
Register here GLT - Gateway Lecture Theatre
Dr Nicola Shephard
Building Future Talent Navigating the Noise to and Teaching Excellence: Build Futures: Educating Brand Response Well in the New Marketing for the Academic Year New Cycle 3-4pm
Breaking Barriers and Building Futures: Getting Started with Research Funding
Building Futures and Creating Teaching Excellence: The New Observation Policy
MS TEAMS (Online)
S3.02a&b
Willow
GLT
Sophie Payne & Will Arnold-Baker
Prof. Arinola Adefila and Rebecca Rochon
Prof. Adetoro Adegoke and Francesca Martin
Paula Han
Day 2 - Tuesday 22 September 9am - 9.30am
Registration
Merchandise, stalls (People/branding and marketing)/tea/coffee and networking
9.30am 10.15am
Keynote
From Access to Success. Everyone's Business Libby Homer and Paul Morgan
10.30am 11.30am
Breaking Barriers to Data-Driven Decision Making Collaborative Approaches to Improving Student Success
Building Futures: Developing a Flexible and Personable Learning Experience for Every Student
The Student Support Maze Made Simple
S3.02a&b
Willow
GLT
BI Team
Zahara Chowdhury
Margaret Rioga
Tailored Thinking Re-imagining roles at Bucks
MS Teams (Online) Rob Baker and Charlotte Axon
Living Libraries
11.45am 12.45pm
In this session, staff are invited to give a series of short talks about Breaking Barriers, Building Futures’ in relation to Teaching, Learning and Research and what it means to them. Ranging from creating belonging in the classroom, to project evaluation, you will hear a variety of perspectives of how current staff address practical plus real-world issues. These will be casual talks with opportunities for Q&A. Come and hear what current staff think and do about ‘Breaking Barriers, Building Futures’ in Teaching, Learning and Research at Bucks!
Launching The Plexus+ 2026-27; Developing Collaborative and Inclusive Research Cultures at Bucks: Tailored Thinking Re-imagining Roles at Bucks Liana Psarologaki MS Teams (Online)
Breaking Barriers to Student Engagement: Creating a Flexible Learning Experience for Commuting, Caring and Working Students Mohammed Yakub and Benedict Watling: MS Teams (Online)
Willow
Living Libraries •
Creating Belonging in Higher Education: Small Actions, Big Impact - Borbala Kenez-Burns
•
The Ripple Effect: How You Impact the International Student Experience - Andy Davies
•
What If We Asked? Curiosity, Conversation and Student Mental Health - Sana Wasiq
•
Breaking Barriers to Student Success: Building Futures for Whom? - Barbara Nicolls
•
Your Thoughts: Increasing Student Engagement in Satisfaction Surveys - Syed Raufz
•
Careers by Design: Embedding Employability Across the Curriculum - Christopher Little
•
Challenges for Sci-Tech Journal Editorial Management in the AI Era? - Kit Zhang
•
Beyond the Written Word: Podcasting for Authentic Professional Learning - Paula Han
•
Open Access and Depositing your Research Outputs - Jessie McLean and Sjoukje Schots
•
Have your say on Employer Behaviours’ - Nicky Wilson and Sharon Egan
•
Make an Impact in the Media - Keith Coles
•
An Open Conversation: How can the Bucks Educational Evaluation Framework Support YOUR Evaluation? - Zehui Yang
•
PGR Voices; Understanding Challenges of Diverse Doctoral Scholars Through EDI Networks - Dean Smith
•
UKAT Professional Recognition for Personal Tutoring - Isabelle Brent
•
Breaking Down Data Barriers: Making Data Work for Everyone - Loveth Chukwuedozie 12.45pm -1.45pm
Lunch -
Atrium Our Focus Consultation sessions with various Action Leads 1.
1.45pm 2.45pm
Power Hour: Reconnect with Your Power and Choice — Become Your Best Self
Building The Future: Working in a University in an Age of AI: An Honest Conversation.
Digital Strategy: How Technology Creates a more Personalised Student Journey
Katharine Hubbard and the Teaching Excellence Hallmark - Our Focus Consultation : The Teaching Excellence Hallmark with Dr Katharine Hubbard MS TEAMS (Online)
2. Charlotte Stewart and Student First Principles: Our Focus Consultation: Student First Principles with Charlotte Stewart MS TEAMS (Online) 3.
Zahara Chowdhury and Signature Pedagogy: Our Focus Consultation: Signature Pedagogy Principles with Zahara Chowdhury MS TEAMS (Online) 4.
S3.02 a&b
Willow
GLT
Rachel Scott Halls and a Connected Information Ecosystem: Our Focus Consultation: Create a Connected Information Ecosystem with Rachel Scott Halls MS TEAMS (Online)
5.
Ian Rowe 3pm - 4pm
Prof. David Webster and Dr Kevin Campbell-Karn
Nicholas Roussel-Milner
Francesca Martin and the Entrepreneurs Programme: Our Focus Consultation: Entrepreneurs Programme with Francesca Martin
Keynote: Breaking Barriers, Building Futures David Brakspear
MS TEAMS (Online)
Session outlines Session Title
Building Futures and Creating Teaching Excellence: The New Observation Policy
Building Futures and Creating Teaching Excellence: The New Assessment and Feedback Policy
Session Summary From September, a new Teaching Observation Policy will be introduced for all academic and professional services staff with teaching responsibilities. We know that teaching observations can sometimes feel daunting, but the refreshed approach is designed to be supportive, developmental, and focused on enhancing teaching practice rather than judgment.
Name
Paula Han
Join this session to learn about the changes, and understand what the new process means for you. There will also be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts in a welcoming and open environment. The New Assessment and Feedback Policy is now live. The policy empowers staff to create and deliver a flexible, personalised and inclusive assessments and feedback strategies that ensure every student can thrive and reach their potential at Bucks. Join this session to learn about the changes, and understand what the new process means for you. There will also be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts in a welcoming and open environment.
Dr Nicola Shephard
At Bucks, all staff play an important role in supporting students. This interactive session is designed to give staff the knowledge and confidence to understand the support available, navigate key policies and procedures, and effectively connect students with the right services. Our aim is to ensure students can access the right support at the right time, creating a seamless and accessible journey to receiving help. By increasing staff awareness and understanding of the University's support framework, we can work proactively to identify concerns early, intervene appropriately, and provide support before issues escalate to crisis point. The Student Support Maze: Made Simple
Whether you're an academic, professional services colleague, manager or front-line staff member, students often see you as their first point of contact. Understanding the support available, how to access it, and when to refer students can make a significant difference to their well-being, experience and success.
Margaret Rioga
Through practical examples and real-life scenarios, we'll explore the University's support services, key policies and procedures, referral processes, and the roles different teams play in supporting students. We'll also look at common issues, discuss when and how to escalate concerns, and share practical guidance to help staff feel more confident in navigating student support processes. Join us to enhance your knowledge, strengthen your confidence, and discover how every member of staff contributes to creating a supportive, connected and successful student experience at Bucks. This session will launch the 2026–27 programme of The Plexus+, Bucks inclusive researchers’ development network. It will introduce the programme’s priorities for the year ahead and explore how researcher development, peer connection and interdisciplinary collaboration can contribute to a more inclusive and supportive research culture across the University. Launching The Plexus+ 2026-27; Developing Collaborative and Inclusive Research Cultures at Bucks
Building on the success of the network’s previous activities, the session will outline forthcoming development opportunities, collaborative events and routes for colleagues to become involved. It will also highlight the expansion of The Plexus+ through Bucks’ partnership with the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network and other relevant initiatives. The session will invite colleagues to consider what an inclusive research culture means in practice, where barriers to participation and progression remain, and how researchers at different career stages, disciplines and professional backgrounds can be better connected and supported. Participants will contribute ideas that will help shape The Plexus+ programme and its role in strengthening our research community at Bucks.
Liana Psarologaki
Session Title
Name
Session Summary Higher education is facing a period of significant uncertainty and change. Financial pressures, policy shifts, increasing workloads and a constant stream of competing demands can leave both academic and professional services colleagues feeling overwhelmed and reactive. Amidst this complexity, it is easy to focus on challenges that lie beyond our control and lose sight of where we can make a meaningful difference.
Navigating The Noise To Build Futures: Educating Well In the New Academic Year
This interactive workshop creates space to reflect on the realities of the current landscape while exploring the concept of agency: the capacity to influence the way learning happens. Through discussion, practical activities and shared examples, participants will identify areas where they can exercise influence, challenge assumptions about what is and is not within their control, and recognise the impact of small but purposeful actions.
Rebecca Rochon
Participants will leave with an action plan comprising one realistic change they can implement immediately in their own practice. The session aims to move beyond reflection to action, helping colleagues navigate complexity with greater clarity, confidence and a renewed sense of agency. What if roles were designed around strengths, priorities and impact, rather than simply being defined by tasks and time spent at work?
Re-Imagining Our Roles at Bucks
In this session, Rob and Charlotte will introduce the work they are undertaking with Bucks to rethink how we design and experience our roles. They'll explore how moving beyond presenteeism and focusing on what matters most can help individuals and teams work more effectively, play to their strengths and create greater value. You'll also hear about the upcoming pilot and how this innovative approach could shape the future of work at Bucks, supporting well-being, engagement and performance across the University.
Rob Baker, Charlotte Axon, Nicky Wilson, and Sharon Egan
Who should attend: Anyone interested in the future of work at Bucks and how this project could influence the way we think about roles, strengths and performance. There will be an initial pilot with the intention of rolling the approach out more widely over time. Note: This session will be delivered online. This workshop is part of a funded research project. Participants will play a research-informed board game ‘The HE Career Game’ (adapted from Snakes and Ladders), followed by a discussion of enablers of and barriers to women’s career progression in the HE sector. The Career Game: Using Game-Based Methodology to Critically Consider the Effectiveness of Targeted Career Initiatives
Dr Carruthers Thomas is an Associate Professor of Higher Education and Gender at BCU. Her research focuses on gendered experiences of the higher education workplace and she also has a track record in creative research dissemination. Who should attend: Whilst the workshop focuses on women’s career progression, it is suitable for higher education professionals of any gender with an interest in career development and/or gender equality. Note: Early registration and a commitment to attend are essential. Participants will need to complete consent forms etc. prior to attendance. Numbers are limited to a maximum of 24 Eventbrite link
Dr Kate Carruthers Thomas
Session Title
Cornerstone: Your Hub for Learning, Growth and Career Development at Bucks
Name
Session Summary Discover how Cornerstone, Bucks’ new learning and development platform, will support your professional growth and career development. In this interactive session, we’ll introduce our new approach to learning and development and explore how Cornerstone can help you identify skills, access tailored learning opportunities, track your development and achieve your career goals. We’ll also showcase how managers and leaders can use Cornerstone to recognise skills and expertise across the University, creating new opportunities for collaboration, talent development and career progression. Whether you’re looking to develop new skills, explore career pathways or support the growth of others, this session will help you make the most of Cornerstone from day one.Who should attend: Suitable for everyone.
Akvile Darulyte, Nicky Wilson and Stephen Shearing With representatives from Cornerstone (TBC)
Note: This session will be delivered online. In this dynamic session, you’ll rediscover the true value of every moment and reclaim control over your emotional state. Power Hour: Reconnect with Your Power and Choice — Become Your Best Self
Through an engaging activity, you’ll experience first-hand how time is your most precious resource. Then, using the proven Triad method, you’ll learn how to instantly shift your feelings and step into your personal power anytime, anywhere. We’ll close with a very special practice that reconnects you to your inner wisdom and strength-reminding you that fulfilment and resilience come from within. This isn’t just a workshop; it’s your launchpad to becoming the best version of yourself.
Ian Rowe
Own your power. Choose your state. Transform your life.
Finance Unlocked: Expenses, Purchase Orders & Beyond
Procurement will cover how to engage with suppliers, delegated authority limits, thresholds for quotes/tendering, documents needed from suppliers to set them up, reviewing terms and conditions, not starting work until a supplier is set up and PO raised, evidence required for POs. Accounts Payable will cover the purchase to payment process, why its there what causes a delay in payments being made and how this can be easily rectified.
Tracey Bate, Veronica Fatemi, Sophie Mamoun
Payroll will cover the process of claiming payroll expenses through Business Connect.
Turning Insight into Impact: Collaborative Approaches to Improving Student Success
Building Futures with Bucks’ Educational Evaluation Framework
This interactive workshop invites both academic and PSE colleagues to explore how data can be used more effectively to improve student success and institutional performance. Academic staff will examine College and subject-level data on student outcomes, recruitment and student satisfaction, identifying key challenges, sharing effective practice and considering potential actions for enhancement. Professional Services staff will explore how data is collected, managed and used within their areas, identifying opportunities to improve quality, consistency and decision-making. Through facilitated discussion, participants will identify common themes, shared challenges and practical opportunities to strengthen evidence-informed practice across the University. This session introduces the Bucks Educational Evaluation Framework as a practical tool to help staff evaluate what worked and what did not work in their delivery, and to demonstrate their impact. Whether you are trying to evaluate your course for the SIP, understand whether a new classroom activity is effective, or demonstrate the impact of a student support service you deliver daily, the framework provides you with guidance on: the key evaluation steps to follow, from designing the evaluation to sharing outcomes, and the key areas of impact to target and measure. It also offers tailored toolkits, consisting of ready-to-use evaluation tools and data sources, that you can draw on directly for your own evaluations. The session will then use the evaluation of pilot placement modules in 25/26 as a case study to show how the framework can be applied in practice. I will walk through how the placement modules were evaluated using the framework’s structure and toolkits. Through this session, you will receive step‑by‑step guidance on how to use the Evaluation Framework. You will also be invited to reflect on how you would like to evaluate your delivery, and how the framework can support your evaluation work. The session is designed to be practical, accessible, and directly relevant to staff who want to evaluate their activity more confidently and use evidence to support improvement. Even if you attended the Evaluation Framework plenary at the Bucks Teaching and Learning Conference, you are still encouraged to come, as this session will be more hands‑on, detailed session compared to the previous introductory session.
Mohammed Yakub
Zehui Yang
Session Title
Session Summary
Working In a University In An Age Of AI: An Honest Conversation
This session will provide academic and professional services colleagues with the opportunity to voice their views and experiences of the use of AI in their University context. We will offer both a critical gaze and look to the potential benefits such tools offer - and how we might make this happen.
Name David Webster
The Digital Agenda Positioning the University for Success in a Digital World
This session explores how the digital strategy has been developed to ensure the University can fully realise the benefits of digital technologies, enhance the experience of students and staff, and remain resilient in an increasingly dynamic and disruptive environment.
Nicholas Roussel-Milner
As AI and automation reshape existing roles, graduates will need advanced digital and AI capabilities alongside distinctly human strengths, including communication, leadership, creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking and ethical judgement.
The Human Advantage: Career-Ready Skills in an AI-Powered Future
Recent reports show that employers want people who can apply technical knowledge effectively in real workplace settings. They highlight demand for digital and job-specific AI capability, communication, resilience, initiative, leadership and management skills, as well as regulatory awareness and operational responsibility. Employers also value practical experience, professional behaviours and the ability to adapt and continue learning as roles evolve.
Dr Russel Stone
The presentation will encourage Bucks colleagues to consider how we can develop this combination of technical expertise and human capability in our learners. The central challenge is not simply to ensure that students acquire knowledge, but to enable them to be work ready in a rapidly changing environment Belonging, mattering, flexibility, adaptive teaching and learning - terminology and words that are becoming increasingly important in teaching learning, policy and education frameworks. As we prepare students for the world of academia and work in the 21st century and beyond, what do these words really mean and look like when cultivating student futures at Bucks? This session will share practical and relational approaches to creating a flexible and personable learning experiences - one that nurtures belonging and success for every student.
Zahara Chowdhury
Building Future Talent and Join us to learn more about brand and marketing and how we work with different Teaching Excellence: Brand stakeholders across the university to develop the future of talent, teaching and Response Marketing for student success at Bucks. The New Cycle
Sophie Payne & Will Arnold-Baker
Breaking Barriers and Building Futures: Getting Started with Research Funding
We want to build, develop and empower staff to feel confident in pursuing research opportunities. Join us to learn more about the process to apply for research funding and most importantly - apply for success!
Prof.Adetoro Adegoke and Francesca Martin
Beyond Metrics: Crafting a Compelling REF Story
Join Professor Arinola to learn more about the Research Evaluation Framework, the UK's system for assessing the excellence of research in UK Higher Education Providers, and how you can be a part of it!
Prof. Arinola Adefila
Building Futures: Developing a Flexible and Personable Learning Experience for every student