The University of West London (UWL) hosted its inaugural Innovate to Educate Conference on 4 and 5 June, bringing together nurses, midwives and allied health professionals from both clinical and academic settings who are passionate about advancing education and practice.
The two-day event organised by Dr Ulrike Gillon, Dr Anosha Sirpath, Val Basil and Anita Sudhagar from UWL’s College of Nursing Midwifery and Healthcare (CNMH) showcased innovative approaches transforming how professionals teach, learn, and support students and practitioners in academia and clinical practice.
An opportunity to collaborate
Attendees benefited from keynote speakers, interactive sessions, panel discussions and workshops, a poster exhibition and exhibitor showcase, with valuable opportunities to network, collaborate and gain inspiration.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Antony Hilton welcomed delegates to the conference, saying:
“We are delighted to bring together colleagues, educators, clinicians, researchers, students, and leaders from across a variety of disciplines. This diversity of perspective is so valuable. The future that we are building has to be collective and collaborative.”
Dean of CNMH Fiona Edwards opened the second day, saying:
“Conferences such as this are not only about listening, but about engaging, asking questions, sharing experiences, and learning from one another. I particularly encourage you to connect with our vendors, whose work supports many of the educational innovations we are striving to implement, and to take every opportunity to build relationships with colleagues across universities, trusts, and practice settings.”
Inspiring keynote speakers
Deborah Taylor, Head of Pre-registration Nursing at CNMH gave a keynote, ‘Shaping tomorrow’s nurses: leadership, compassion and the courage to innovate’. She reflected on her experiences as both a newly qualified nurse and educator, emphasising the importance of supporting students as individuals with unique challenges and needs.
UWL alumnus Professor Barry Hill, now Professor in Nursing and Critical Care Practice at Northumbria University, delivered a keynote on ‘Educating for a Different Future’. He explored the evolving landscape of healthcare education, highlighting the growing importance of community care, illness prevention, and the increasing use of OSCEs, vivas and diverse assessment methods.
Dr Graham Stretch, President of the Primary Care Pharmacy Association, discussed preparing healthcare professionals for prescribing responsibilities from qualification.
Dr Burak Salgin, Consultant Neonatologist at the Royal London Hospital, examined the role of human factors in neonatal education and training.
Wide-ranging discussions and insights
Across the conference, attendees engaged in panels covering topics including enhancing student learning, wellbeing and support; gamification, engagement and teaching; simulation, technology and practice readiness; and digital innovation.
Further contributions included:
Adrian Ellison, Pro Vice-Chancellor (People and Digital) addressing the challenges and implications of AI in Higher Education
UWL’s Dr Anosha Sirpath exploring equity, diversity and inclusion in nursing and allied health education
Roehampton University’s Mahdi Shayan presenting research on behavioural and social factors influencing HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake
UWL nursing student Natasha Ray sharing insights into her student experience
Actress Rosie Nash speaking about the role of actors in Higher Education
A call to educate for innovation
Closing the conference, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience) Sara Raybould reflected on the event’s theme:
“I was struck by the title of these two days, Innovate to Educate, and it bothered me because we need to educate to innovate. Because if innovation stops at the point of exit, then we’ve done a bad job. The education we give breeds innovation in the workplace. Innovation itself is going to be the big changer in the healthcare sector.
She thanked attendees and organisers for their contributions to a successful and thought-provoking event.
