This will be the 8th annual conference, bringing JISC’s expertise and knowledge on technology in education to over 750 academics, IT experts, library professionals, policy makers, research staff, senior managers, students and teachers from across education within the UK and internationally.

The conference theme Technology: at the heart of education and research confirms JISC’s view that universities and colleges must integrate technology into all aspects of their strategic planning to ensure their survival in the coming years. Over the last 15 years JISC has provided expertise, support and guidance to those working in higher and further education to help them maintain the UK’s world class reputation.

The first PebblePad conference will not be constrained by the term eportfolio but will consider PebblePad, and other tools, in the broader context of personal learning systems.

This two-day conference attracts delegates from across the globe who want to discover and share the innovations in blended learning which are happening in the UK and at higher education institutions around the world.

The importance of developing a community to support learning is a well established idea. The virtual and physical learning spaces we build, as well as the ways in which we engage our students, are increasingly being influenced by our desire to create and support a learning community. The Fifth International Blended Learning Conference aims to explore the notion of community in its variety of forms.

Learning technology is part of the fabric of formal and informal learning. Meanwhile, a sea-change is taking place. The sea-change involves a structural and pervasive shift in the nature of the Internet. Specifically: we and our learners are always connected; the devices we use are growing in capability and diversity; the information environment and the tools and services that we use to navigate and to interact with it and with each other are in great flux.

The challenge posed for education is great. It is to increase effectiveness, productivity, and quality, whilst institutional and agency budgets are reducing, rather than just to promise improvements. At the same time we need to ensure the spread of innovations that are scalable and of long-term value, both educationally and financially, whilst keeping learners and learning at the heart of our thinking.

The conference will explore key issues relating to advanced practice, technological advancements and innovation in radiotherapy, service user involvement and workforce imperatives, CPD as well as the education, professional development and research activities of practitioners.