Collaborate 2025

In a rapidly changing world, HEIs play a crucial role in championing the principles of social justice and inclusion, ensuring that every student, regardless of background or circumstance, has equitable access to opportunities for success. By acting according to these principles, institutions can foster environments where diverse perspectives are celebrated, barriers to participation are dismantled, and every member of the community feels a genuine sense of belonging and empowerment. 

We welcome submissions that address key topics, such as:

• Social Justice and Inclusion, e.g. strategies to combat inequities within HE, foster inclusive campuses, and empower all students to succeed.

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), e.g. initiatives that create safe, inclusive spaces for diverse communities, cultivate a sense of belonging, and promote equitable practices across institutional structures.

• Accessibility and Widening Participation, e.g. insights on creating accessible, equitable, and welcoming learning environments, and expanding opportunities for marginalised and underrepresented groups.

• International Student Support, e.g. programmes, policies, and practices that cultivate belonging and address unique challenges faced by international students.

• Supporting the supporters, e.g. examples of best practice in training, support, and emotional support for those staff whose role it is to provide equitable care, guidance, and advocacy for students, especially during times of geopolitical unrest and conflict.

This conference theme aims to explore approaches to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and health-promoting environment for students in HE. 

We welcome submissions that address key topics, such as:

• Well-being, Mental Health, and Support Systems, e.g. enhancing campus mental health services through peer support, mentoring, and trauma-informed practices; addressing diverse wellbeing needs.

• Health Promotion and Campus Culture, e.g., building a health-promoting culture aligned with the Okanagan Charter; partnerships and collaborations for a holistic approach to campus health. 

• Student Partnership and Advocacy: e.g. involving students in shaping wellbeing policies, leading initiatives, and ensuring inclusivity in health programmes; empowering students to advocate for personal and peer wellbeing.

• Physical Health and Fitness, e.g. promoting accessible resources for sports, recreation, and physical activity that support mental and physical wellness; inclusive, community-building fitness options; digital tools and apps that encourage students to stay active and healthy; health education on chronic illness prevention.

This conference theme explores holistic and inclusive approaches to enhancing student engagement, fostering a sense of belonging, and empowering students to succeed in HE. By addressing the diverse experiences and needs of students, we aim to create a supportive campus environment that promotes wellbeing, human flourishing, and personal and academic success.

We welcome submissions that address key topics, such as:

• Happiness, Flourishing, and Belonging, e.g. exploring how emotional wellbeing, belonging, and personal growth drive engagement, academic success, and a thriving campus community.

• Holistic Care for Student Success, e.g. supporting mental, emotional, and physical health through collaborative care in student and academic affairs to meet academic and social needs.

• Student Activities and Engagement, e.g. fostering participation in campus life, promoting social connection, and building community through extracurricular and co-curricular activities, student organisations, and students’ unions.

• Enabling Student Success, e.g. empowering students to achieve academic and personal goals, during and after their time in HE, with targeted skills, support, and resources.

• Careers and Career Readiness, e.g. preparing students for workforce transitions through skills development, career guidance, and experiential learning.

• Supporting Diverse Experiences in Student Life, e.g. addressing unique needs across student living situations and identities, such as inclusive residence life and supports for commuting students.

• Integrating Student Life into the Curriculum, e.g. embedding engagement, belonging, and wellbeing themes into academic programmes to enhance student development.

• Evaluating Success in Student Life Initiatives, e.g. using metrics to assess the impact of engagement programmes on belonging, wellbeing, and academic outcomes.

This conference theme focuses on the intersection of student and staff learning, emphasising collaborative efforts that enhance academic experiences and foster inclusive environments to which each member of the community feels that they belong. 

We welcome submissions that address key topics, such as:

• International Collaborations and Partnerships, e.g. best practices and case studies demonstrating successful cross-cultural academic collaborations that enrich student and staff learning experiences.

• AI and Technology, e.g. exploring the role of AI and technology in facilitating collaboration, enhancing teaching methods, and supporting personalised learning journeys.

• Supporting the Academic Journey, e.g. strategies and programmes aimed at supporting students through their academic paths, focusing on holistic approaches to student success.

• Collaboration with Academic and Student Staff, e.g. initiatives that foster meaningful partnerships between student affairs and academic affairs professionals to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.

• CPD Opportunities, e.g. CPD initiatives that empower staff through training, resources, and networks to promote effective collaboration in educational settings.

• Accreditation (Additional Modules), e.g. discussions around the development and implementation of additional modules for accreditation, focusing on enhancing educational quality and learning experiences.

• NASPA/EucA/LUMSA Masters Programme, e.g. Insights into the collaborative efforts and outcomes of the NASPA/EucA/LUMSA Masters Programme for those working in student affairs and services.

Prioritising staff wellbeing at work helps to create the necessary foundation for professional success. This theme encompasses a range of topics related to mental health, wellbeing, and achieving meaningful work-life balance, aiming to support staff at every level within the community of student affairs and services.

We welcome submissions that address key topics, such as:

• Mental Health Support, e.g. creating a workplace that prioritises mental wellbeing through, e.g. clinical supervision, mental health training, peer support, etc.

• Work-Life Balance, e.g. promoting balance through workload management, setting healthy boundaries, and offering flexible work arrangements.

• Comprehensive Wellness Programmes, e.g. holistic wellbeing initiatives that address physical and psychological health, with a focus on inclusivity to ensure that all staff feel supported.