The United Kingdom Advising and Tutoring (UKAT) Associations’ Conference: Learning well

We will be hosting the UKAT 2025 10th annual conference on Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 April 2025.

UKAT is a global learned society of professional practitioners and researchers interested in advancing the scholarship and practice of student advising and personal tutoring in Higher Education in the UK. 

The UKAT annual Conference builds connections between these audiences and broader networks of colleagues with expertise in psychology, mental health, education theory, wellbeing, learning community and community engagement, student partnership and student life.

This year the theme of the conference is 'Learning Well', and it will celebrate the power of positivity, the joy of learning and university life. 

The conference schedule can now be viewed on the UKAT Conference website, including accepted abstracts on the following topics from UCL colleagues:

• An analysis of career pathways of UCL psychology postgraduate students over a decade (Eva Krumhuber and Katy Coyte).
• Boundary setting within staff student relationships; how to be successful and overcome challenges (Elizabeth Halstead and Elisabeth Herbert).
• Reflections on the strategic use of artificial intelligence in tutor-tutee communication (Katie Wardle, Katie Lewiston and Scarlett Shepherd).
• How cross academic year personal tutor groups can promote better engagement through peer support (Elizabeth Dow).

Day 1 keynote - The HE Advising and Tutoring Show: Where Past Meets Future with Colum Cronin.

Monday 7 April, 1:30-2:10pm. Logan Hall, 20 Bedford Way.

Join us for this special celebratory keynote hosted by Colum Cronin, presenter of the Irish NFL Show and former presenter of the Advising Podcast. Colum will be joined by members of the UKAT Board of Trustees and special invited guests. Together they will consider the evolution of UKAT and academic advising/ personal tutoring in the UK over the last 10 years, how UKAT helps advisors and tutors, the future of HE and the challenges this presents. They will explore how the sector can work together to respond to those challenges and make a difference to students, the sector and themselves.

Day 2 keynote - Practical Compassion with Jenny Shaw, Unite Students.

Tuesday 8 April, 11:30am-12:15pm. Logan Hall, 20 Bedford Way.

Compassion is one of those things that we instinctively recognise but may find hard to define, and is even more challenging to apply in higher education. In this session, Jenny Shaw draws on two recent publications from the Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce (HEMHIT), together with student research and good practice examples from the UK and beyond, to discuss compassion towards students and how this can be applied in a practical way. The presentation will explore both individual approaches to practical compassion and what it means to be a compassionate organisation.

UCL staff can attend keynote sessions for free

The UKAT team has kindly offered to open attendance for one or both keynote sessions to the wider UCL community. 

If you would like to attend either or both of the UKAT conference keynotes please complete this short MS Form. The deadline to register for the keynotes only is Friday 4 April. 

ArtsUCL extravaganza: Featuring performances from Live Music & K-Pop societies

As part of the UKAT conference, you can join us for a vibrant showcase of dance and live music from UCL's student groups, highlighting the incredible range of talent at artsUCL!
 
Fresh of their sold-out run at the Bloomsbury Theatre for Rhapsody 2025, Live Music Society has some of the best student musicians that UCL has to offer. With a genre-spanning repertoire that highlights their extraordinary skills, they never fail to put on an incredible show, performing in venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, the Shaw Theatre and The Albany in recent years!
 
K-Pop Society are one of artsUCL's fastest growing and most popular societies. Combing slick dance moves with stunning vocals, they bring down every house they find themselves in. Their precision, passion, and synchronization will leave you spellbound as they bring the vibrant world of K-Pop to life!
 
Don't miss this chance to celebrate the incredible talents of our students with an evening of music, dance, and unforgettable performances!

If you are attending outside of the conference, UCL students and staff can get discounted tickets for £5 - simply book directly through the theatre and select UCL/ UKAT.

Register to attend the UKAT 2025 conference 

Joins us and colleagues from across the UK and international personal tutoring and advising community for:

• Inspiring sessions: Immerse yourself in thought-provoking keynotes, panel discussions, and workshops. Learn from visionaries who have shaped the landscape of higher education.
• Networking galore: Connect with fellow educators, researchers, and industry leaders. Forge new partnerships, exchange ideas, and explore exciting opportunities.
• Vision for the next decade: Together, we’ll chart a course for the future. What innovations await us? How can we continue to empower students to flourish and drive positive change?

  Who should attend?

• Educators and administrators: Whatever your level of experience, this conference is your platform for growth.
• Researchers and scholars: Dive into discussions that shape the academic landscape. Share your insights and learn from others.
• Students and emerging leaders: Be part of the conversation. Your perspectives matter, and your voice will shape personal tutoring and academic advising for the next decade.

Registration details

Register directly for the UKAT Annual Conference through the UKAT Registration webpage - deadline to register for the full conference is Friday 28 March.

All UCL staff are eligible for a special host institution delegate rate for any of the conference delegate tickets. This 33% discount will be applied automatically to when you register with your UCL email address.