Keynotes

We are delighted that the Conference will include keynote presentations by two thought-provoking and influential researchers, Professor Mary Stuart and Professor Patricia Gouthro.

‌Professor Mary Stuart

Professor Mary Stuart

Professor Stuart joined the University of Lincoln as Vice Chancellor in November 2009. She is a graduate of the University of Cape Town and the Open University where she obtained her Doctorate in Social Policy in 1998. Her research interests are focused on life histories, social mobility, higher education students and community development.

Mary was previously Deputy Vice Chancellor at Kingston University and a Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of Sussex between 2000 and 2005. She has extensive experience of developing partnership working between institutions and leading change within universities. Mary has been a champion of widening participation and life-long learning and her latest book, ‘Social Mobility and Higher Education: The life experiences of first generation entrants in higher education’, was published in 2012.

'Different mobilities and learner biographies - social mobility and higher education'. 

This keynote will explore the concept of mobility, social geographical, virtual and imaginary, and their relationship to developing aspirations in first generation students in higher education.'

‌Professor Patricia Gouthro

Patricia Gouthro is a Professor in the Faculty of Education at Mount Saint Vincent

Patricia Gouthro

University in Halifax, Nova Scotia in the Graduate Studies in Lifelong Learning program. Her research interests include critical and feminist theory, lifelong learning and the homeplace, cross-cultural concerns in education, women’s learning experiences, life history research, citizenship, civil society, and grassroots learning organizations.

Her current Social Science & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grant examines connections between lifelong learning, citizenship and the craft of writing fiction.  She has previously served as the President of the Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education and as a co-editor of the International Journal of Lifelong Education.

“Slow learning: reflective scholarship in a time of mobilities and transitions”

This paper explores the notion that lifelong learning should be conceived of as an interesting journey for both learners and educators. It begins with an overview of how changes in mobilities and transitions provide new opportunities for education and then discusses how neoliberal values have impacted on current learning contexts. The paper then considers how lessons from the slow movement may be useful to take up in a lifelong learning context and explore some strategies for educators to consider regarding the benefits of ‘slow learning’.