Higher Education Pedagogy Conference 2026
Higher Education Pedagogy Conference 2026
Adaptive Universities, Learning Communities: Individual and Collective Paths to a New Culture of Self-development
The future of higher education increasingly depends on the extent to which universities are able to function as adaptive, learning communities. Adaptation and continuous development are not merely institutional strategies, but shared practices: faculty, researchers, development professionals, and students together shape the new culture of universities. Self-development thus becomes both an individual journey and a communal experience, made possible by reflection, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. The conference workshops seek answers to questions such as how a culture of learning and development can be supported in today’s universities, and what methods, platforms, and community practices can facilitate this process. The workshops provide a space for collective thinking, the exchange of experiences, and the testing of new approaches. A central role is given to learning processes that build on differences, diverse perspectives, and collaboration. The aim of the conference is to create an open professional community in which development is not an isolated individual task, but a collectively shaped university culture.
Date: 9 October 2026
Venue: ELTE Faculty of Education and Psychology (1075 Budapest, Kazinczy u. 23-27.)
Language: Hungarian and English
Keynote lecture
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The keynote lecture will be delivered by Dr. Robert Kordts with the title Inquiry into education in times of crises: The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for learning universities.
Universities today are navigating profound transformations shaped by generative artificial intelligence, global sustainability crises, and growing political crises affecting democratic societies. These developments challenge institutions not only to rethink teaching and learning practices, but also to reconsider the broader educational role of universities in society. In this context, universities are increasingly called upon to become adaptive learning organizations that foster continuous reflection, collaboration, and collective development. This keynote explores how the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) can contribute to such a transformation. Framing teaching as a site of systematic inquiry and shared professional learning, SoTL offers approaches for connecting educational practice, research, and institutional development. The presentation will introduce key ideas and principles of SoTL, present examples of its implementation in higher education contexts, and discuss how it can support cultures of collaborative learning and pedagogical innovation across disciplinary boundaries. The keynote will also invite participants to reflect on the potential of SoTL within the ELTE context, exploring how inquiry into education can strengthen both individual professional development and the collective capacity of universities to respond to contemporary societal challenges.
Dr. Robert Kordts is Professor of University Pedagogy at the University of Bergen. His work focuses on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), university teachers’ emotions, curriculum design, sustainability in higher education, and the pedagogical implications of generative AI. With an international background in educational psychology and academic development, he has extensive experience in educational development and higher education teaching. His research and practice emphasize collaborative inquiry into teaching and learning as a foundation for sustainable and reflective university cultures. He is actively involved in international networks and initiatives related to higher education pedagogy and SoTL.