Events by University of Central Lancashire

The Children's Identity & Citizenship European Association (CiCea) is proud to announce its international research gathering hosted at the University of Huddersfield. The Youth Identity & Civic Education Symposium 2026 brings together leading scholars, educators, researchers, and social policy advocates to discuss the evolving dynamics of citizenship, social cohesion, and identity formation among young people across Europe and beyond. In an era characterized by dynamic global shifts, technological acceleration, and socio-political transformations, understanding how young people navigate their sense of belonging is paramount. This symposium serves as an international forum dedicated to examining the intersection of educational frameworks, youth activism, and democratic participation. Delegates will gather to present ground-breaking research, share practical pedagogical strategies, and collaborate on policies aimed at fostering inclusive, empathetic, and active citizens. Key Focus Areas and Conference Themes The three-day event is structured around several critical themes central to contemporary educational research and practice: Identity Construction in the Digital Era: Investigating how digital media, social networks, and virtual communities shape political literacy, self-perception, and civic involvement among youth. Democratic Citizenship and European Values: Exploring methods to strengthen human rights education, democratic principles, and anti-discriminatory frameworks in primary, secondary, and higher education settings. Pedagogical Innovations for Active Citizenship: Showcasing experiential learning approaches, peer-to-peer coaching, and community-led initiatives that empower young people to address real-world socio-political challenges. Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Cohesion: Addressing systemic inequality, marginalized youth voices, and political polarization through inclusive policy frameworks and social justice education. Interactive Sessions, Workshops, and Networking Attendees will have access to a rich program consisting of keynote speeches by renowned scholars, peer-reviewed paper sessions, poster presentations, and hands-on workshops. Interactive symposia will encourage active dialogue between delegates and panel speakers, moving beyond traditional lecture formats to create a collaborative environment. In addition to academic exchanges, the event features scheduled networking coffee breaks, dedicated doctoral student mentoring sessions, and a conference dinner in Huddersfield town centre. These opportunities allow early-career researchers and established academics to build international partnerships, co-author publications, and initiate interdisciplinary research projects. Selected conference papers will also be referred to the double-blind peer-reviewed journal Citizenship Teaching & Learning for potential publication.

Protect Your Commercial Assets with Expert IP Guidance Navigating the landscape of corporate assets requires a solid understanding of Intellectual Property (IP). For early-stage companies, growing businesses, and individual inventors, securing unique ideas, original brand elements, and proprietary technical processes is critical for maintaining a competitive edge. The Intellectual Property Surgery, hosted by the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) in partnership with the Business & IP Centre (BIPC) North East, provides free confidential one-to-one advisory sessions to help regional founders audit, structure, and defend their core intellectual assets. Intellectual Property forms the baseline of commercial valuation for modern ventures. Without effective legal safeguards, innovative products, distinct branding, or proprietary operational methods can easily be duplicated or exploited by competitors. This clinic offers dedicated access to IP specialists who help evaluate your current business footprint, identify underlying risks, and outline practical steps toward full legal protection across every relevant category. Comprehensive Coverage Across the Four Pillars of IP During your personalized clinic session, specialists will examine your business model to establish which forms of intellectual protection apply to your operations. The session breaks down the four distinct mechanisms of IP management: Trademarks: Safeguard brand identity markers including company names, logos, product titles, domain names, and slogans to prevent brand dilution or market confusion. Copyright: Protect literary works, website copy, original artwork, media recordings, architectural plans, software source code, and training documentation. Designs: Protect visual aesthetic appeal, shape, external contours, and structural ornamentation of physical commercial products. Patents: Defend novel mechanical inventions, technical processes, technical solutions, and functional manufacturing methods against unauthorized commercialization. By systematically walking through these legal definitions during your session, you can create a prioritized roadmap for registering formal rights or implementing operational protocols that protect unregistered rights. Mitigate Infringement Risks and Maximize Asset Value Beyond securing your own proprietary assets, understanding IP is essential to ensure your business operations do not inadvertently infringe upon the existing rights of third parties. Adopting commercial materials, technology components, or marketing themes without proper vetting can result in legal disputes, costly rebrands, or unexpected financial liabilities. The IP Surgery provides guidance on conducting comprehensive preliminary searches across public registers, ensuring your new brand names or product designs are clear for commercial use prior to significant capital deployment. Furthermore, holding registered IP assets strengthens market positioning, increases investor confidence, and unlocks potential licensing revenue streams. Whether you are launching a startup, scaling an existing business, or developing a novel product line, this surgery equips you with actionable insights to safeguard your innovations and build sustainable enterprise value. Reserve your individual time slot in advance to ensure dedicated consultation time tailored specifically to your business needs.

The University of Central Lancashire is proud to host the 8th International Authenticity to Action Conference in Preston. This landmark event serves as a premier gathering for educators, health professionals, students, and community partners dedicated to the advancement of patient and public involvement in higher education. As a core requirement for professional health and social care courses, the integration of lived experience into academic curricula is more vital than ever. This conference celebrates nearly two decades of progress since its inception in 2007, showcasing the growth of partnership working across the UK and beyond. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage with public and patient involvement facilitators and meet individuals with lived experience who are passionate about shaping the knowledge and attitudes of future healthcare professionals. The 2026 programme is designed to tackle the most pressing challenges in the field, including the evolution of administrative systems that support rather than hinder co-production. Key sessions will explore the nuances of relationship building between institutions and the public, the role of peer support workers in educational settings, and the financial frameworks necessary to sustain long-term involvement. Participants will also be involved in drafting new minimum standards for public involvement in education, ensuring that the voice of the service user remains at the heart of health and social care training. Whether you are looking to critique existing barriers or celebrate innovation, this conference provides a supportive and provocative space to drive real-world change in the academic landscape.