Learning Continues

The first International Higher Education Day celebrated how universities, teachers and students kept learning alive through global disruption.

The inaugural edition, proclaimed on 6 January 2020, took place as campuses worldwide moved to remote teaching almost overnight. It recognised the resilience of educators, the adaptability of students and the quiet work of administrators who kept higher education running.

The edition asked a practical question that every institution still faces: what do we want to keep from the emergency months? Many universities discovered new ways to support students at a distance, to share teaching materials across departments and to look after the wellbeing of staff and learners. Celebrating resilience also means listening to those who carried the heaviest load, from lecturers who rebuilt courses overnight to students without a reliable connection.

How institutions marked the day

Institutions, student unions and organisations around the world marked the day on campus, online or in a hybrid form, on 19 June or in the days around it. Events held for this theme included:

• A "lessons learned" roundtable where lecturers, students and administrators share what worked during remote teaching
• A thank-you ceremony for the teaching, library, IT and support staff who kept the institution running
• A showcase of digital teaching tools and practices that deserve a permanent place
• A student-led storytelling session or exhibition about learning through disruption
• A wellbeing workshop on stress, isolation and healthy study habits

Official IHED Agenda

The IHED central organising team held the official event of this edition: a full day of seminars, sessions, conversations and celebration, in person at the host institution and online for participants everywhere. The agenda of the day:

• 09:00 Doors open, registration and coffee in the foyer
• 09:45 Opening ceremony by the host institution and the IHED organising team
• 10:15 Keynote: What higher education learned from the crisis
• 11:15 Break in the foyer and networking
• 11:45 Panel: Teaching that continues, lecturers and students in conversation
• 13:00 Lunch
• 14:00 Parallel seminars, in person and online
• 15:30 Workshop: Planning for continuity in the next disruption
• 16:45 Fireside conversation with students, alumni and the host institution
• 17:30 Celebration: reception and cultural programme
• 18:30 Closing remarks and announcement of the next host

Tell the IHED organising team about your event

Did your institution mark the day with an event? Tell the IHED organising team. Use the registration form on this website and add your institution, the date, the format (on site, online or hybrid) and a short description, so that your event can be listed. The team reviews every submission and publishes approved events on the Events page. Questions? Write to the team through the contact page.