GLAD08 - introduction

Hosted by Nottingham Trent University, the 2008 GLAD conference built on and developed the themes and ideas first published in The Student Experience in Art and Design: Drivers for Change. This book had resulted from a 2007 conference held in Cambridge, at which over fifty key researchers and leaders in art and design higher education, from the UK and across the world, had debated the future of their subject over an intensive five day period.  The book which was written and published by the participants as a result of this conference identified key themes which should shape the agenda for improving the student experience in art and design higher education over the nest few years.  The book received significant attention in the educational press when it was published in Spring 2008. 

GLAD08 brought together over 80 art and design practitioners at all levels in art and design - department heads, programme leaders, policy formers and researchers - to engage in participatory workshop activities, with the aim of understanding the reaction of those who work in the field to the themes outlined in the book.  Some of the delegates had attended the Cambridge conference, but many had the opportunity in Nottingham to debate these themes for the first time.  A copy of the book was sent to each delegate to read prior to the conference.  Over two days at the conference, workshops were held at which writers of each chapter presented a summary of the ideas underlying the book, followed by discussion groups.

The topics which the conference addressed were based on the following chapters of the book :

Working without a script : rethinking how academics can work collaboratively in changing contexts -  the role fragmentation of academics: an examination of the need to re-establish congruence between institutional mission and individual identity through a re-framing of the employment context; including management and staff development.

Leadership for art and design higher education -  an investigation of the alignment of a discipline-oriented identity with leadership and management.  The skills, experience and knowledge required and the mechanisms that can be put into place to strengthen leadership potential.

Bau-Wow : a model for creative practice, thinking, learning, research and innovation in the 21st century - an exploration of prevailing educational structures and their ability to deliver the unexpected in the creativity agenda.

The research:creativity nexus - a clarification of research and creativity in art and design by examining emerging models of creativity and how research into creativity can benefit the student experience.

Mind the gap : expectations, ambiguity and pedagogy within art and design  -  a discussion of expectations during the transition between compulsory and post-compulsory education and between education and employment, and what support students need to fulfil expectations. 

Practice-based learning and teaching : a real world experience ? -  an evaluation of the use of space in art and design schools and the future reallocation of space within institutions and its effect on learning and teaching.

The Third Space : a paradigm for internationalisation - an assessment of the process of embedding international, intercultural and global perspectives within all aspects of an institution’s programmes, structures and environment, to provide a richer educational experience for all students.


This website presents a summary of the discussions which took place in each of the workshops held in Nottingham, and attempts to draw together their recommendations into a Blueprint for Change.  Many of these proposals support propositions made in the book, but others challenge these ideas, or develop them further. Some are broad-based and aspirational, others precise and pragmatic.  It should be noted that these reports, and the blueprint based on them reflect the range of personal views expressed by delegates in the debates, and are not necessarily those of the workshop presenters, chapter writers or GLAD itself. It is hoped that the blueprint will act as a valuable resource for researchers and teachers in art and design higher education, as they develop their own ideas and plans for the future direction of education in their discipline. 

Meanwhile, GLAD continues its work, engaging educators in research and improvement to the student experience in art and design higher education.  Research conducted by David Vaughan and Mantz Yorke is currently being completed, investigating the reasons behind the modest performance of art and design in the National Student Survey over the last few years.  And the GLAD09 conference which will take place at York St John University on October 21st and 22nd will focus on the projects of particular relevance to Art and Design which have been undertaken across the UK since 2006 as part of the work of Centres of Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

back to main GLAD08 page