Members of Portobello Institute’s academic team recently attended and presented at a conference at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) entitled ‘Critical Pedagogies: Challenges, Innovations and Transformative Practices within and across Higher Education’.
The conference was hosted by the Centre for Educational Research (CERES) at LJMU and explored ways in which theories, curricular practices and student engagement can offer ideas, tactics and potential solutions for practitioners across all aspects of higher education (HE).
Presenters explored the ways in which current challenges, within and across the multifaceted terrains of higher education can be constructively and creatively navigated.
The Portobello Institute staff in attendance were Jacinta Murphy (Lecturer, Early Years), Pauline Maguire (Head of Academic Operations), David Nolan (Programme Manager, MSc Sports Performance Analysis), Dr Danielle Prescott (Development Consultant), and Dr Iryna Fox (Programme Manager, Early Childhood Studies Degree Programmes).
At this innovative knowledge exchange the topics that were covered throughout included:
- The theorisation and navigation of contemporary higher education
- Alternative models and approaches to delivering college-based higher education
- Facilitating success with non-traditional higher education students
- Critical Technology: Impacts and possibilities for higher education
- Issues for accessibility, social justice and/or ethics
- Decolonising practices for teaching and learning
- Gamification, artificial intelligence/online learning, and assessment
- Utopian/anarchist pedagogies
- Practices for critical citizenship
- New approaches to assessment and feedback
The event was organised by Dr Craig Hammond, Reader in Pedagogies & Critical Theory CERES Deputy Director at LJMU.
There were two keynote speakers, Dr Curtis Tappenden and Sarah Maclennan.
Dr Curtis Tappenden has taught in the art and design sector for 33 years and is currently a senior lecturer in further education (FE) at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), Kent.
Sarah Maclennan is Programme Leader of three undergraduate programmes and Associate Dean for Education for APSS.
Portobello Institute Speakers at LJMU Centre for Educational Research Conference
Dr Iryna Fox and Jacinta Murphy from Portobello Institute spoke on ‘Building confidence: helping mature students to transition to higher education’. This study addresses the issue of promoting the confidence of mature students who transition to higher education.
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Iryna said that the conference was inspiring and rewarding.
“I started my career as a researcher over 20 years ago. Working on a research project and presenting it to my colleagues felt like reconnecting to my roots.
“The theme of the event - challenges innovations and transformative practices - resonated with our aims at the Early Years department in Portobello as we try to find innovative ways to support our students and help them to overcome the challenges of transitioning to higher education programs while also combining study, work and personal commitments.
“It was inspiring and rewarding. It was great to see that Portobello Institute can make a real and meaningful contribution to developing innovative and transformative practices for higher education,” she said.
Pauline Maguire from Portobello Institute spoke on ‘Hacking Sports Education: Can participation in Hackathon events support students engagement’.
Hackathons are competitive, time-based events where individuals or teams work collaboratively to create innovative solutions to a specific problem or challenge.
This project is proposing introducing hackathon events across our sports departments to support students' engagement and participation. The study will focus specifically on Active Student Participation and whether there is any change in students' class participation after taking part.
Pauline has worked closely on the partnership between CERES and Portobello Institute and was proud to see the event come to fruition.
She said real higher education involves some sort of identity transformation – and that educators are there to support that transformation within their students.
"Having been part of the evolution of the CERES partnership with Portobello Institute, I was incredibly proud to be there at the event, to see it both come to fruition and also be given the opportunity to present on some of the great practice that is happening within Portobello Institute.
"I am always delighted to have the opportunity to show off the wonderful things that happen within Portobello Institute. There is a huge amount of innovative practice happening within the institute, so I was delighted to be able to share some of that practice with like-minded educators and also hear about their experiences. It was a really collaborative conference, with lots of opportunities for sharing and questioning.
"This conference was collaborative, inspiring and a really wonderful way to find out about the innovative practice happening at both our partner university and within our own institute. It was really inspiring to hear my colleagues present on the work they’re doing, and the impact it has and will have on our students," she said.
David Nolan from Portobello Institute spoke on ‘Attitudes and Practices of Elite Strength Coaches Towards Sex-Specific Needs in International Women’s Rugby Union’. This explores how a knowledge gap exists in relation to sex-specific differences in physical preparation that arguably has resulted in practitioners relying predominantly upon empirical evidence collected from male subjects for reference when devising interventions for female athletes.
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Speaking about his experience, David said it was an honour to take part in the conference at a time of great change in higher education.
“LJMU is regarded as one of the world's leading sports science institutions. It was an honour to be invited to partake in such an innovative knowledge exchange with world-class educators.
“I believe it is a significant indicator of the progress Portobello is making in the educational space of higher education, and engaging with other leading institutions will aid Portobello to continue to grow and improve the experience they deliver to their students.
“Higher education is at a time of great change. We must be innovative and adaptive in our approaches to education to keep up with the changing face of education.
“I was delighted to be fortunate enough to engage with excellent educators from various disciplines in such an innovative learning experience,” he said.
Dr Danielle Prescott from Portobello Institute spoke on ‘Employability: A Collaborative Approach’. She presented the findings from research conducted over a nine-year period that captures the student voice on perceptions of employability as both an undergraduate student and a graduate three years later.
Danielle said it was a great event and an excellent opportunity to share new ideas.
“To be invited to the CERES event to represent Portobello at LJMU was a privilege. Being invited to events that allow the showcasing of research and research-informed practice is always something I am excited about.
“Being able to show how current research practice from myself and colleagues at Portobello is utilised is something that was nice to share with others from different institutions. The reception received about the various practices that are evident at Portobello was positive and was found to be informative and areas of practice that others are keen to adopt in their own institutions.
“The key takeaway from this event was the ability to see all the different ways in which others are trying to be innovative in their practice. Attending this event was also important for reassurance of the quality practices that are at play at Portobello,” she said.
Portobello Institute in Partnership with Liverpool John Moore's University
Portobello Institute strategically works to promote staff participation in research and the opportunity to present some of this with our partner university LJMU was engaging and rewarding for all involved.
Portobello Institute is proud to partner with Liverpool John Moores University on the accreditation of our MSc Sports Performance Analysis, MSc Physical Education, BA (Hons) Physical Education and BSc (Hons) in Sports and Exercise Science.
If you are interested in any of our sports courses or have any questions you can contact our expert sports advisor Jason Lester by emailing jason.lester@portobelloinstitute.com or calling 01 892 0029. Visit our sports department here.
