HE Connect 26 conference programme

Let’s make digital in higher education better

The conference is tailored for digital leaders in higher education and features 2 packed days with a carefully curated mixture of talks, workshops, activities and world class facilitators, thought-provokers, speakers and session leads.

Unlike many other conferences, this one is not about speakers talking endlessly about their own work. Rather than being talked at, this is your conference for active participation and connecting with your peers with the goal to move things forward.

Programme
Tuesday, October 6

8:30 - 9:30: Breakfast and registration

Join us early, get the conversation started, make some new friends and enjoy some freshly brewed coffee and tea.

9:30 - 9:45: Welcome & Opening

by our host Janus Boye, Boye & Co


TBD

9:45 - 10:15

by Emma Horrell (UK)
User Experience Manager at The University of Edinbourgh


TBD

10:15 - 10:40

by Gina Adams (UK)
Senior Digital Marketing Manager at University of St Andrews


TBD

10:40 - 11:00

by Jens Krumm (DE)
CEO at +Pluswerk


11.00 - 11:20 Coffee & networking


TBD

11.20 - 11.55

by Johannes Nygaard (DK)
Chief digital advisor at University of Copenhagen


TBD

11:55 - 12:30

by June Shannon (IE)
Digital Content Creator at University of Limerick


12:30 - 1.30 Lunch


1:30 - 2.30 Roundtables

Come join 2 x 25 minutes of informal roundtable discussions to get answers on your specific questions or help others by sharing your expert knowledge.
Each table has no more than 10 attendees and is assigned a specific topic and moderator.
First come first served: you don’t get to see who’s at the table until you get there.

After the initial 25 minutes are up, you get to pick another table for the next 25 minutes of discussion.

More information coming soon


2:30 - 3:00 Coffee & networking


TBD

3:00 - 3:45

by Kris Purdy (UK)
Head of Digital Experience at University of Glasgow


TBD


4:30 - 5:00 Coffee & networking

5:00 - 6:00 Lightning Talks

As the name suggests, lightning talks give speakers a limited amount of time to make their presentation – around 10 minutes. They may or may not include slides.

Because lightning talks are brief, it requires the speaker to make their point clearly and rid the presentation of non-critical information. This, in turn, helps keep the attention of the audience. It also means many ideas can be presented in a short amount of time.

More details coming soon

6:30 - 10:00 Social event

Join us for an informal networking dinner.


Wednesday, September 24

7:00 Morning Run

We meet together for a relaxed 25 minute run.

8:30 - 9:30 Breakfast and networking

Join us early, get the conversation started, reflect on what you’ve already learned and enjoy some freshly brewed coffee and tea.

9:30 - 9:45: Morning welcome

A brief welcome by Janus Boye and perhaps a bonus lightning talk.


TBD

9:45- 10:45

by Stratos Filalithis (UK)
Head of Web Strategy at University of Edinburgh


10:45 - 11:00 Coffee & networking


TBD

11:00 - 11:45

by TBD


TBD

11:45 - 12:30

by TBD


12:30 - 1:30 Lunch


TBD

1:30 - 2:00

by TBD


What’s ahead of us?

2:00 - 2:45

Led by Janus Boye (DK)
Conference chair

A brief interactive wrap-up of the two days. Join us for key lessons learned, big questions for 2026, perhaps a few answers and what happens next.


2.45 - 3:00 Goodbyes and see you next year!

Thanks for joining us. Continue the conversation over a cup of coffee or tea before leaving Edinburgh.