Keele University has been announced as the hosts of the Change Agents’ Network (CAN) Conference for 2021.

The Keele Institute for Innovation and Teaching Excellence will organise and host the 9th annual CAN Conference, celebrating the power of staff-student partnership working at Keele University and beyond.

The CAN Conference offers a unique opportunity to showcase groundbreaking staff-student partnership work, which is now recognised as a significant driver for curriculum innovation and change.

CAN is a network supported by Jisc, of staff and students who are working in partnership to support curriculum enhancement and innovation with technology.

Elliott Lancaster, who has served as the Education Officer at Keele Students’ Union for the past year and will be pursuing his PhD at Keele in September, will be a key member of the CAN Conference organising committee at Keele. Elliott, who spoke about the student-staff partnerships at Keele at the 2019 CAN Conference, comments:

“Keele University has a steep history in embedding student opportunities throughout all that we do. This year we are celebrating our 70th anniversary and I believe that our Students as Partners initiative shows that this commitment is stronger than ever.

“I am delighted that Keele will be hosting the 2021 Change Agents’ Network Conference in partnership with Jisc. Organising this conference will be extremely rewarding, ensuring that students are a fundamental part of the decision-making process.”

The CAN conference will engage staff and students from HE and FE institutions in a community of experience and best practice.

Sarah Knight, Senior Co-design Manager at Jisc, comments:

“Jisc is delighted to be working with Keele University on hosting and organising the Change Agents’ Network 9th annual conference in 2021. The CAN network is now self sustaining and shows the continued commitment to student partnerships across further and higher education. Student partners are driving forward curriculum change within their institution and having a real impact on students’ experiences. We look forward to working with Keele University in planning the 2021 CAN conference.”

Dr Filippo Nereo, Associate Director for Curriculum Development at Keele comments:

“We are delighted to be hosting the CAN conference in 2021. The Keele Institute for Innovation and Teaching Excellence champions staff-student partnership and is leading on a variety of projects to enhance the curriculum and wider educational experience of our students. We look forward to working with Jisc to facilitate a discussion and provide a platform to showcase examples of innovative and exciting staff-student collaborations from across the sector.”

Full details on the 2021 conference will be announced in due course.