HE Connect 27
Digital leadership in higher education

 

Quick access:
- speakers
- key themes
- partners
- venue
- FAQ

Johannes Nygaard from University of Copenhagen talking about his large and complex web estate

Higher Education Connect returns on October 12-13, 2027, this time in Bristol. Over two days, digital leaders from universities across Europe and beyond come together to share what is working, what isn't, and what comes next for web, content and digital strategy in higher education.

Expect honest case studies, hands-on sessions and plenty of time to talk with peers who face the same challenges you do. No sales pitches, just people helping one another make progress.

Featured on the list of top conferences for higher ed marketers in 2026: " strong choice if you’re leading digital transformation, running a complex web program, or coordinating across departments…or if you just truly enjoy connecting with higher ed professionals in a friendly, engaging format."

 

Speakers

Rob Fowles (UK)
Head of Digital Channel Management at University of Birmingham

 
 

Interested in becoming a speaker? Fill out this brief form to start the conversation.

Key themes

This year, that conversation moves to Edinburgh for the first time. Many of the questions already being discussed across our peer groups will continue during the conference, such as:

  • How is AI reshaping the way students discover, evaluate and engage with universities?

  • How can universities create trustworthy, accessible content for people, search engines and AI agents?

  • How can content, video and personalisation strengthen the university relationship, from first enquiry to student life and alumni engagement?

  • How can institutions simplify sprawling digital estates and get more from the technology they already have?

  • How can digital, IT, communications and marketing teams redesign the way they work and use automation responsibly as expectations rise and resources shrink?

Conference partners

Interested in becoming a conference partner? Fill out this brief form to start the conversation.

Venue

The conference will take place in Bristol - a lively harbour city in the south-west of England. It’s known for its creative scene, street art and independent spirit.

With two universities and a thriving tech and media sector, it's one of the UK's most forward-looking places to meet, and under two hours from London by train.

FAQ

  • HE Connect 26 is a two-day, in-person conference for people who work on digital strategy, websites, and technology at universities.

    It brings together a small group of university staff, along with a handful of agencies and tech vendors, to talk openly about what's changing in higher ed - things like AI, university websites, and how students find and interact with universities online. It's less about formal presentations and more about working sessions, shared examples, and real conversation between people doing similar jobs.

  • HE Connect 26 is for people working in digital, IT, communications, and marketing roles at universities - the ones responsible for websites, content, and how the university shows up online. It's aimed at practitioners rather than vendors, though a small number of agencies and technology providers also join to add outside perspective.

  • Not quite. EdTech conferences tend to focus on teaching and learning technology - tools for the classroom, online learning platforms and similar tools.

    HE Connect is different: it's built for the people running a university's digital presence and strategy - websites, content, comms, marketing, and IT - not the academic or teaching side. Think digital leadership for universities, not education technology.

  • HE Connect is intentionally kept small - usually around 40-60 participants, mostly digital leaders from universities, plus a small number of carefully chosen agencies and technology vendors. Discussion tables are capped at 10 people each, so it never feels like a big anonymous crowd - you'll actually get to know the people in the room.

  • There's no stage full of vendors pitching products, and no one talks at you for 45 minutes straight. Sessions are built around real problems people are actually working through - you'll spend time in small groups, compare notes with people doing similar jobs at other universities, and leave with practical ideas rather than a slide deck. It's built more like a working session between peers than a traditional conference programme.

  • Yes, but only a handful. Each edition includes a small, carefully selected group of agencies and vendors alongside the university participants - enough to bring useful outside perspective, without turning the conference into a sales floor.

If you still have some questions left, please contact us here.