Author:
Maarja Roosi

ENLIGHT Teaching and Learning Conference 2024

The fourth ENLIGHT Teaching and Learning Conference will take place at the University of Tartu from 7 to 9 October 2024. The conference theme is Innovation and Creativity in Higher Education. The two keynote speakers are Laura-Maija Hero, Principal Research Scientist at HAMK Edu research unit, and Jaan Aru, Associate Professor in Computational Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Tartu. 
 
The conference will begin on 7 October with a pre-conference that offers practical workshops for brainstorming and networking. The sessions, poster presentations, and workshops on 8 and 9 October will demonstrate countless possibilities for using and promoting creativity in teaching and learning from AI to drama and medicine to mathematics. 
 
Keynote speakers
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Laura-Maija Hero
Laura-Maija Hero (author: Erakogu)

One of the keynote speakers, Laura-Maija Hero, Principal Research Scientist at HAMK Edu research unit, will speak on 8 October about “Design-based approach in teaching and its connection to foster student creativity and innovation”. Laura-Maija Hero has more than 10 years of experience in learning and innovation. She focuses on multidisciplinary education and design-based learning.

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Jaan Aru
Jaan Aru (author: Maiken Staak)

The second keynote speaker is Jaan Aru, Associate Professor in Computational Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Tartu, who will speak on 9 October about “Brain learning, creativity and students’ motivation”, observing how we could support creativity and motivation in studying. Jaan Aru focuses on the analysis of fundamental problems at the intersection of cognitive science, neuroscience, and AI.   

Teaching and Learning Award 2024

At the conference, the ENLIGHT Teaching and Learning Award will be given to a course which has implemented innovative international pedagogical approaches and/or learning practices related to the educational aims of ENLIGHT. The UT nominee is the course The Internet of Things” by Ulrich Norbisrath and his team. See the other nominees.  In addition, two new awards will be given to ENLIGHT student initiatives: Inclusion and Sustainability Awards. 

 
Streaming for UT staff and students 
On 8 and 9 October, UT staff and students can watch the streaming of the opening ceremony, the presentations of the two keynote speakers, the Teaching and Learning Award ceremony, and sessions held in one of the halls. The streaming link will be provided on the conference page by the morning of 8 October. 
 
Networking Portal
UT staff is welcome to meet and contact the ENLIGHT staff coming to Tartu. For that, they can register on the conference networking portal. This provides the staff members who are not participating in the conference with an opportunity to find partners for cooperation in similar scientific fields.
 
Read more about the programme 

Doctoral defence: Andrew Mark Creighton “Wolves as Signs of McDonaldization in Northern Manitoba”

On 14 October at 16:15 Andrew Mark Creighton will defend his doctoral thesis “Wolves as Signs of McDonaldization in Northern Manitoba” for obtaining the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (in Semiotics and Culture Studies).

Doctoral defence: Siim Laanesoo “Novel High-Performace Biomass-Based Polymers”

On September 27 at 1:15 p.m., Siim Laanesoo will defend his doctoral thesis “Novel High-Performace Biomass-Based Polymers” („Uudsed polümeerid lignotselluloosilisest toormes“).

Doctoral defence: Henri Ingelman “Systems-level characterisation and improvement of Clostridium autoethanogenum metabolism”

On September 26 at 1:15 p.m., Henri Ingelman will defend his doctoral thesis “Systems-level characterisation and improvement of Clostridium autoethanogenum metabolism”