Building on the success of the inaugural Forum held on May 1, 2025, in Dubai under the theme Promoting Excellence in Higher Education Teaching, the 2026 edition represents an exciting evolution for the region. This year, the event transforms into a truly integrated platform, the Festival of Learning, bringing together three major gatherings under one unified experience: the Advance HE Forum, the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Conference and the Symposium on Academic Integrity (SAI).
As the first event of its kind in the Gulf, the Festival of Learning unites higher education leaders, faculty, researchers, Advance HE Fellows and academic integrity champions in a single collaborative space. The Festival is dedicated to elevating teaching excellence, strengthening professional and fellowship recognition, expanding SoTL research and advancing ethical academic practice across the region.
10th Annual Conference of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) started in 2015 at Zayed University, UAE. SoTL is a field of research and study that aims to improve teaching and learning in the higher education context. Engaging in SoTL is considered as the most effective and transformative method of faculty professional development because SoTL practitioners inform their practice by the research that they conduct in their own classrooms. SoTL research is always carried out in naturalistic environments and when shared with others who are working in similar contexts and facing similar challenges in the classroom, it can be extremely powerful in developing higher education faculty and bringing about change on a large scale by increasing the quality of teaching and learning in higher education institutions.
This year marks the 10th Anniversary of SoTL in the Gulf and it is part of the 2026 Festival of Teaching and Learning!
All presentations at the conference will be dedicated to showcasing empirical evidence of effective teaching practices and interventions that promote student learning and foster academic achievement.
Join us as we come together to celebrate and champion the pursuit of teaching excellence and student success at the 10th Annual Conference of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning at the 2026 Festival of Teaching and Learning.
3rd Annual Symposium on Academic Integrity
Launched in 2024 in collaboration with Zayed University, UAE in collaboration with University of Wollongong in Dubai, the Symposium on Academic Integrity was established as a regional platform dedicated to strengthening ethical practice in education. In its second year, the Symposium joined the Advance HE Gulf Fellowship Network Forum, expanding its reach and reinforcing the role of integrity within professional recognition and faculty development.
Now in its third year, the Symposium forms part of the 2026 Festival of Teaching and Learning, alongside the Advance HE Gulf Fellowship Network Forum and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference. This integrated model reflects a holistic vision: positioning academic integrity not as compliance, but as a foundation for teaching excellence, scholarly practice, and institutional credibility.
The Symposium brings together voices from schools, students, and higher education, recognising that integrity must be nurtured across the full educational continuum. We particularly welcome classroom-based action research that explores ethical learning environments, responsible assessment design, the implications of generative AI, and innovative practices that promote trust. Under the theme Recognising Excellence, Building Integrity, Inspiring Change, the Symposium seeks practical, evidence-informed approaches that strengthen culture, inspire leadership, and drive sustainable change across the region.
