ESCalate annual conference

Now on my way home from what has been a very rewarding two days at Stirling Management Centre working at the HEA ESCalate Subject Centre's Annual Conference where this year's themes were: Widening Participation (progression and retention), including the role of HE in FE; Technology Enhanced Learning; Contexts of Learning. Approximately 100 delegates attended 5 keynotes (mainly opportunities to watch the rain!) ; a choice from 70 paper presentations and workshop sessions; 14 of which were delivered by FEC lecturers (some of whom benefited from the having the conference's "best session chair"......). Other than when I was being talked at (see above reference to Scottish rainfall), it was an excellent conference run by, for, and with people who are enthusiastic, skilled teachers & educators from a range of subject areas.Personal highlights were:UPC's "Developing an (sic) HE culture within a disparate HE in FE partnership" where I got an (unexpected) name check for help given 18 months ago and "The Link Between Research and Education: an FE example". Being dragged (forcibly!) onto a dance floor to "start" the Ceilidh was unfortunately filmed and is doubtless on Youtube already. However, the case for the defence would like to point out that it was in exchange for free 10/12/16-year-old malt whisky for the next few hours.......