Learning Places - Building Pathways
The Call for Presentations is now Closed!
Don't miss your opportunity to join our leading experts at the annual gathering of Scotland’s learning estate professionals.
Register your interest
Scotland's Learning Estate Conference
We are inviting proposals for presentations, workshops, group discussions and exhibition material which will investigate, illustrate, demonstrate or celebrate the theme of
‘Learning Places - Building Pathways’
The deadline for submitting your presentation is
Thursday 2 April 2026!
All presentations will be reviewed by the Advisory Group on the basis of quality, originality, and relevance to the conference theme.
We are inviting proposals for presentations, workshops, group discussions and exhibition material which will investigate, illustrate, demonstrate or celebrate the theme of
‘Learning Places – Building Pathways’.
Proposals may explore how spaces, design, partnerships and practice can:
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Support transitions between stages of learning;
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Create clearer skills and employment pathways;
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Enable inclusive and accessible learning journeys;
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Strengthen links between education and local communities;
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Embed sustainability and support pathways to net zero;
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Harness digital platforms to connect learners beyond the classroom; and
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Reimagine existing estates to unlock new progression routes
Do you have an idea for how our spaces, design and partnerships could better support learning journeys? Are you an educationist who has a story to tell or a student with a vision to share?
Click below to find out more about...
Our Focus
The foundation of Scotland’s Learning Estate Strategy is to improve and manage the condition of our learning estate, by delivering high quality, suitable, energy efficient, low carbon and digitally enabled learning environments that support sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
It is to use lessons learned from projects and partnerships to strengthen the pathways that connect learners to opportunity - across all stages of education and into employment.
Collaboration seeks to deliver the best possible outcomes for all learners and communities in Scotland.
The Learning Estate offers the potential to create clear, connected pathways for everyone. Whether a learner or teacher, a member of the community or a local business working with young people, a design consultant or construction professional, the opportunities created in and by our learning estate mean different things to different people.
In 2026, our focus is not only on the quality of learning environments, but on how those environments actively build pathways - enabling progression, reducing barriers, and supporting lifelong learning journeys.
What does it mean to you?
Our Theme
Building Pathways is about more than just creating the physical construction. It is about how the physical environment can support the learner’s journey.
It means:
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Strengthening transitions between stages of learning;
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Creating inclusive routes for learners with diverse needs, including ASN;
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Linking schools, colleges and universities with place, industry and employment;
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Embedding sustainability and climate responsibility into learning environments;
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Supporting community resilience and lifelong learning; and
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Using digital innovation to extend learning beyond physical boundaries.
A learning place should not be an end point - it should be a gateway.
When submitting your entry, please provide the following:
- Presentation Title (10 words or less)
- Presentation summary (300 words max)
- Shortened summary (100 words) which will be used on the conference programme if successful
- 3-5 learning points from an attendee perspective
You do not need to submit your final presentation slides at this point.
Call for Presentations Deadline:
Thursday 2 April
Criteria for submitting a Presentation for the Conference
1.
Presentation submissions will be reviewed and selected by the Advisory Group on the basis of quality, originality, and relevance to the conference themes. Marketing-derived papers, or those seeking to advertise will be rejected.
2.
Where a presentation is discussing a particular project or case study in an education setting, the client should be the main speaker with the contractor / architect etc as the supporting speaker.
3.
Presentations should be submitted under the name of the person intending to present them at the conference.
4.
A maximum of 3 presentations can be submitted by one company and each presentation should be a separate submission.
About your Proposal
Proposals could be based on initiatives within Scotland or further afield. They may relate to completed projects, new builds, refurbishments/reconfiguration of existing buildings, outdoor improvements or temporary buildings, digital platforms and innovation, concepts in development, place-based approaches to learning and community resilience, or academic and technical research.
While proposals may have a building component, they may equally focus on the practices, partnerships and innovations that create meaningful pathways through and beyond learning environments.
Proposals are particularly welcome from anyone including children and young people, educators, building operators, design consultants, contractors, academics or the wider community.
Challenge and vision are welcomed, as is sharing of lessons learned and experience of good practice.
We particularly welcome contributions that demonstrate measurable impact, replicable models, or bold thinking that redefines how our learning estate can build pathways for Scotland’s future.
A key aim of the 2026 Conference is to identify practical, scalable and innovative ways in which our learning estate can actively build pathways - supporting progression, inclusion, sustainability and opportunity across Scotland.
When submitting please consider the following points:
- Relevance: The presentation should be relevant to the themes of the conference, addressing the needs and expectations of the audience.
- Originality: The presentation should offer a fresh perspective or innovative approach, offer new case studies and up-to-date content and information.
- Clarity: The presentation should be clear, concise, and easy to understand. The speaker should be able to effectively communicate complex ideas and concepts to a diverse audience of educators, architects, engineers, and other stakeholders.
- Practicality: The presentation should offer practical solutions or insights in delivering/managing/maintaining educational buildings and spaces. Attendees should be able to take away tangible strategies and examples of best practice that they can implement in their own work.
- Time: The presentation should be able to be delivered in a timely manner and if too long should be adaptable to be able to fit into the programme.
