Conference Steering Group

We are in the planning phase for the EAUC Annual Conference 2012 and we want to ensure that the interactive sessions we offer deliver what our Members want. Similar to last year, we have set up a Conference Steering Group (CSG) which this year will comprise of representatives from our existing Member Advisory Group (representing the Members), EAUC Region, our host venue and the EAUC Board. It was also a priority to ensure that both the further and higher education sectors are represented.

Conference session objectives

Delegates should walk away from the conference session having:

* Picked up practical advice/experience(s) and learning to take away and use back in their own University/College
* Made new contacts with others in professional positions / a contact for expert, free and, where appropriate, commercial advice
* Supporting access to non-commercial tool kits/tools/guides/apps (downloadable from EAUC website)
* Been to a quality conference session delivered in a professional manner

Conference session definition

A conference session delivers practical advice and offer of/access to support to the delegates. It is a learning and sharing experience for the delegates. It reflects delegate needs for both the higher and further education sector to aid delivery of their sustainable strategies, projects, actions, paths and challenges. It is a facilitated meeting offering discussions, syndicate groups, panel discussions and Q&A. Delegate contribution is essential.

A conference session could lend itself to a workshop, an expert panel discussion, an outdoor activity/tour or an open space meeting. Ideally it is supported by materials which delegates can access as and when needed. It is not an opportunity for a PowerPoint presentation, nor for delivering a sales pitch or for any commercial gain.

Submit an idea for a session by completing the proposal form below and send to conference@eauc.org.uk.

Conference streams

The Conference Steering Group (CSG) have agreed that 2012 conference sessions will be based around the frameworks provided by Learning in Future Environments (LiFE) (www.thelifeindex.org.uk) but will pick up key themes from previous conferences that do not fit directly into LiFE.

Leadership and Governance - Leadership, Staff Engagement and Human Resources, Social Responsibility and Sustainability (this part encompasses the LiFE project). There will be a separate session on LiFE.

Partnership and Engagement - Business and Industry Interface, Community and Public Engagement, Procurement and Supplier Engagement

Learning, Teaching and Research - Learning and Teaching, Research, Student Engagement

Estates and Operations - Biodiversity, Sustainable ICT, Utilities, Sustainable Travel and Transport, Sustainable Construction and Renovation, Resource Efficiency & Waste, Business case for sustainability (in a certain area), Sustainable master planning, Carbon compliance (Carbon Trust, CSR targets, building metering strategies)

Leadership and Governance elements are to be integrated across the board in all other frameworks. The structure of the each individual session proposed could lend itself to being built around; policy and strategy, communication, behaviour change, action planning, training and support, stakeholder engagement, implementation, measurement and links to the curriculum. 

What's the CSG's role?

* Conference Steering Group (CSG) will consists of 15 EAUC Members
* CSG will meet "virtually" (including sharing online documents, tele-conferences, emails)
* CSG will provide ideas of content input and speaker suggestions (sessions and panels)
* CSG will investigate ideas, make initial contact with the speaker(s) and put concise session suggestions/panels/mini-plenary forward
* CSG will (together with the conference team) prioritise the top recommendations for each stream and select appropriate sessions from other external offers suggested
* CSG members will each be responsible for putting together one session but can contribute to others. Ideally the CSG member will introduce the session at the Conference and help facilitate discussions
* Once sessions are approved, the responsible CSG member will ensure their session speakers are informed on room set-up, style of session and connecting and sharing content between session speakers in order to deliver a joined-up, interactive session