Events

FACE CONFERENCE “Change and Continuity” 30 Years of FACE 26th-28th June 2024

Hosted this year by the University of Sussex, the annual FACE conference will, once again, create a dynamic and welcoming space for learning, sharing and discussion.

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of FACE, the conference will reflect on the ever-changing landscape of widening access and participation. Capturing our collective expertise as we adapt to changes in government priorities, the education landscape, and a fast-paced technological revolution. The conference draws on our reflections of the past thirty years, what lessons can we learn and how can we can collectively shape the future of our sector. The conference draws on our reflections of the past 30 years to explore the lessons we can learn, and how we can collectively shape the future of our sector.

We welcome papers from everyone, including practitioners, researchers, and those working in collaborative partnerships.

Papers may draw on:

Best practice projects in the field of widening access and participation.
Reflections on policy and practice over the last 30 years
Collaborative projects between organisations and community partners
Emerging research
Examples of evaluation and its impact on adaption or change

Closing date for submission of papers is Friday 12th April 2024.

FACE Conference 2024 – Call for Papers (office.com)

Please register your interest in attending the conference and book here:

FACE Conference 2024 – Registration of Interest (office.com)

Accommodation can be found in Brighton and discounts are available with many hotels in the city.

Where to stay : How to get here : About us : University of Sussex

Just quote the discount codes detailed on the website when booking.
Free conference parking is available on campus.

We very much look forward to seeing you in Brighton.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact us on Faceconference2024@sussex.ac.uk

What informed you the most?

“Everything was incredibly informative; I couldn’t choose one part of the programme.”

“The research informed paper sessions were fantastic – interactive and inspiring. I learned so much about how things run in other teams and institutions.”

“The discussion with other delegates informed by the key notes /panels/paper sessions.”

“The keynote speakers were excellent… i like how they made a clear link to the whole lifecycle of widening participation.”

What inspired you most?

“Meeting people as equally passionate as myself at HE – I can get bogged down in the beurocracy at my institution. FACE gave me the opportunity to place my work in the wider context.”

“Being around like-minded colleagues, and the discussions that many of the keynotes in particular sparked.”

“The people! Everyone I met was incredible, it was so lovely to be part of a like-minded community, with people in similar roles who I can learn from and share best practice with. And also a really nice sized group – it didn’t feel intimidating, and there was time to get around most people and build my network.”

Do you believe anything from the conference will influence your practice or research? If so, what?

“It’s got me thinking about how I can evaluate the impact of my work outside the OfS/ institution-imposed measures of success.”

“Absolutely – there are at least 10 new ideas that I will be using to inform the development of our team’s existing programmes and also to put some new ones into place.”

“Gosh, so much! I haven’t had time to really think it through yet, but I actually want to do some research and have the opportunity to present in the future.”

“…exploration into student voice.”

“Yes – Student partnership working, looking at how we develop agency with our students and reflecting on the importance of our ways of being. I have to say, i was so happy about how welcoming and encouraging everyone was. The conference gave me much more confidence that i should be there and that people are interested in what i have got to say. I will definitely come back.”