Innovation Exchange 2025: Going for Gold!

UVAC invites universities and higher education institutions, further and higher technical education providers, work-based and professional learning organisations, technical leaders, managers, practitioners, employers, policy makers, and key stakeholders, to join us for an inspiring event that will explore how recent technical education reforms, and the evolving skills landscape, are transforming the future of learning, work, and opportunity across the UK.

This is your opportunity to hear from leading voices across education, industry, and government, and to explore effective practice examples, gather insights and resources, and join the national conversation, as we ‘unpack’ the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, guided by the industrial strategy and sector plans, to deliver on our UK’s plan for change. Driving critical innovation, increased productivity, and sustainable economic growth, through the delivery of ‘gold standard’ academic, technical education and apprenticeships.

Together, we’ll unpack how recent reforms and emerging skills demands are transforming opportunities for learners, employers, and educators.

Key Themes

• Building a world-class, future-ready workforce
• Connecting pathways across tertiary education for equity and inclusion- creating ladders of opportunity.
• Inspiring innovation through collaboration and employer partnerships
• Aligning skills and employment systems for visibility and accessibility
• Raising the prestige of technical vocational education and training
• Pride in professionalism- supporting technical teacher recruitment, retention and development retention
• Developing teaching and research excellence
• Promoting professional recognition and celebrating success
• Foresighting future skills and workforce needs
• Exploring digital transformation solutions across learning and delivery
• Developing T-Shaped learners and championing progression.
• Enhancing experiences through project work, challenge, and competition-based learning

What You’ll Gain

• Strategy, policy and professional practice updates
• Thought leadership and sector insights
• Examples of innovative, effective practice
• Resources and networking opportunities to help you build stronger connections and drive change
• Increased awareness of the continuing professional development available to support personal and organisational development

Key Takeaways

• Explore how collaboration between universities, colleges, ITPs and employers strengthens tertiary pathways and technical talent pipelines.

• Raise your awareness of how degree apprenticeships, higher technical qualifications enhance inclusion, innovation and workforce sustainability.

• Gain insights into global best practice in delivering high-quality, work-integrated learning and skills delivery

• Explore strategies to embed quality, knowledge and resilience across tertiary education system

• Identify opportunities for policy alignment, lifelong learning and sustainable development.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC)