We are pleased to announce the pre-conference workshops that will take place on June 15th as part of the HEAd’26 conference. These workshops are designed to provide participants with hands-on experience, practical skills and theoretical knowledge on some of the most relevant topics in education and technology.

W1. Learning through Play. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Action. This workshop demonstrate the use of game-and play-based approaches which engage with this inherent ‘wickedness’ through the exploration of possible futures in 2030 and 2040 and the entangled causes and effects of climate change. The higher education sector continues to prepare students for a stable and predictable futures where skills and careers are clearly mapped out and are usually informed by the present. Yet the world unfolding around us continues to become more complex, uncertain, and disruptive. This interactive and participatory session will offer participants the opportunity to engage with and reflect on two immersive and creative approaches to embedding Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) across the curriculum and beyond.

W2. Let’s talk research data safeguarding. Research Data Management Strategies for Stronger Partnerships in Higher Education. This workshop equips researchers and research support professionals with practical techniques to design and implement effective Data Management Plans (DMPs) that reflect today’s digital realities and the complexities of research partnerships. In a digital era marked by increasing cyber threats and privacy risks, protecting research data has become a critical challenge for higher education institutions and their partners. Research Data Management (RDM) is no longer a simple data lifecycle mapping exercise—it is a strategic methodology for trust, resilience, and compliance in collaborative research. Participants will explore real world scenarios and co-develop DMP components that address reducing cyber and privacy risks across the research lifecycle, defining roles and safeguards for partners managing shared data, governing the use of Artificial Intelligence in research workflows, and applying RDM practices that support innovation, international collaboration, and competency‑based education.

W3. Institutionalising Youth Co-Governance in University–Territory Innovation Ecosystems. This workshop concentrates specifically on the institutionalisation of youth co-governance models in higher education institutions and their territorial networks. Universities are increasingly recognised as key actors in regional innovation ecosystems. However, while youth empowerment is widely invoked in policy discourse, mechanisms that grant young people structured decision-making roles within higher education governance remain under-analysed. Rather than addressing social innovation broadly, the workshop focuses on three interrelated analytical dimensions: governance architectures, digital infrastructures for deliberation and impact assessment.

W4. From Student Perspectives to Actionable Insights. Evidence-Based Course Evaluation with Q-Methodology. This workshop concentrates on the use of Q-methodology, a technique where qualitative data are analyzed using quantitative techniques for course evaluation. While annual course evalutations rely on Likert-scale rankings and a few qualitative comments, the options are limited and many instructors struggle to find what works best for the largest number of students. The participants will learn the fundamentals of Q-methodology and then work through practically applying their understanding to each of the three phases involved: 1) instrument development, 2) data collection and 3) analysis and application. In the end, you’ll leave with an understanding of the whole process and a revitalized outlook on how evidence-based course evaluations can allow you to make targeted changes that you know will impact multiple learners – and not cater to the disgruntled few.

Please note that workshops will only be held if they reach a minimum number of registrations.