Foundations for the Future: July 13-14 2011, Greenwich, London, UK

Learning and teaching conference organised by the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies (PRS)

Keynote speaker: Baroness Mary Warnock

We are pleased to announce our 2011 conference and call for proposals. 

The conference will bring together colleagues in Philosophy, Theology, Religious Studies, History and Philosophy of Science, Technology and Medicine (HPSTM), Biblical Studies and Educational Development.  It will provide an opportunity to explore the diverse approaches and challenges in these areas, and to share a range of effective learning and teaching practices.

The Subject Centre for PRS has worked with colleagues in departments throughout the UK and internationally for more than a decade to build a strong community committed to the enhancement of learning and teaching in our disciplines. In that time we have organised over 100 events  attended by more than 1,600 people, contributed to hundreds more, funded over 150 projects in learning and teaching in our disciplines, and published 14 books and guides, almost 200 articles in our journal, Discourse, and more than 500 other resources, case studies and project reports on our website. 

In addition to inviting new perspectives in learning and teaching in our disciplines, this conference will draw together the range of work that we have undertaken and supported over the past 10 years; the wealth of knowledge and expertise that exists in learning and teaching across our disciplines; and the difference this work has made to the learning experience of students in theology, religious studies, philosophy and HPSTM across the UK. It will celebrate good teaching in our subjects, and the many successes of the Subject Centre for PRS working in collaboration with our academic communities.  

The conference will consider how these foundations can be built upon as the Higher Education Academy moves to a new structure, and how you can be involved. It will also provide a forum to discuss the future of philosophical and religious studies education in these difficult times for UK higher education.

We are keen to receive proposals from anyone with an interest in learning and teaching in our disciplines. Abstracts should be no more than 500 words in length and should include brief details of both the content and format of your presentation. We are interested in any work you have done with a pedagogical focus, or that offers subject-specific reflection on the student learning experience. As a guide, you should plan for a 45 minute session, including 15 minutes for questions and discussion, but suggestions for more interactive sessions in a different format (for example, workshops/presentations/discussion groups) are also encouraged. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
*	Learning and teaching issues in your discipline - e.g. teaching controversial or sensitive topics, supporting students' transition to / progression in HE
*	Curriculum design and delivery
*	Sub-disciplinary teaching issues - e.g. logic, critical thinking, world religions, spirituality
*	Interdisciplinarity and teaching  of PRS subjects outside PRS departments
*	E-learning -using technology in the teaching of our subjects
*	The value of our disciplines - e.g. employability, contributions to public policy and other academic and social discourses (society, politics, law and the media etc.)
*	Engaging with social/global issues, e.g. ethics, sustainability, cultural and religious diversity
*	Linking research and teaching 

Proposals should be submitted to [log in to unmask] by Monday 14 February 2011.  Proposals will be anonymised for peer review: please make the first page of your proposal a cover sheet including your name, organisational/institutional affiliation, and email address.

Some bursaries will be available to assist with speaker expenses in attending. 

We hope to publish the outcomes of the conference in a special online edition of Discourse. Please indicate in your proposal if you think your contribution would be suitable for this.

Dr. Clare Saunders
Senior Academic Co-ordinator (Philosophy)
Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies
School of Humanities
University of Leeds
Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
URL: http://prs.heacademy.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)113 343 1166
Fax: +44 (0)113 343 3654
Email: [log in to unmask]