Higher education is frequently challenged to "future-proof" its practices. Yet, the very concept may mislead institutions, educators and students. In this keynote, I argue that future-proofing is not only a fallacy but a distraction from our common goal: fostering and sustaining student engagement through active, resilient and creative pedagogic practices. Engagement, I propose, is best understood as a sustained cycle of initiative, purpose, action, reflection, responsiveness and resilience. Generative AI has made the future-proofing fallacy even more evident. I will explore what "learning in a modern university" should feel like: a transformative process where students engage with complex problems and tools, take ownership of new ideas, critique and apply knowledge in diverse, inclusive environments. Whether synchronously or asynchronously, individually or collaboratively, on- or off-campus, learning must transcend content delivery and become a co-created, reflective journey ...

Generative AI has been described as an “arrival” technology—sudden, ubiquitous, and seemingly inevitable. But arrival for whom, and at what cost? In this provocative panel, we challenge the narrative of inevitability and examine the complexities of GenAI’s rapid integration into Irish higher education. Are we witnessing the dawn of a more equitable and innovative era—or a moment of unchecked...

The Jennifer Burke Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. This award celebrates unique or pioneering approaches to teaching and learning, novel in a specific discipline or context. Importantly, innovation doesn’t have to involve technology—it’s about innovative and effective examples that showcase how to enhance the learning experience.