Deirdre Figueiredo MBE’s Post

Extra, extra, read all about it! 📰 From eclipses to teaching innovations to trailblazing research, see how members of the College of Arts & Sciences have been driven by a quest for knowledge and a thirst for human connection in this edition of A&S' spring magazine 🍊 Read "Connections that Matter" ➡️ https://lnkd.in/efqCBQbE

This is inexcusable.

This is tragic, but unfortunately not unexpected. As an alumni I have fond memories of my time at UArts and the amazing opportunities and people I've been connected with throughout my time there. I've met life-long friends in various fields of art, coworkers and collaborators I still know and love to this day, and several of my professors there are top-notch and fostered us into highly functional and successful members of the professional art landscape. However, as a professional and guild member acting in Philadelphia still I and my peers have had plenty of opportunities in the last few years to speak with the current and previous graduating classes at events throughout the Northeast. From the insanely high tuition increases, misappropriation and miscalculations of student credits, prioritization of modern facilities rather than student curriculum and networking, on top of the current shifting perception in value of a 4-year BFA as opposed to on-site trade mentorship with a studio/company… the financial losses and dwindling student body are direct consequences of prioritizing their bottom line over their students for the last 15 years. Sending so much love and hope to the current class aiming to graduate and the students still enrolled who are now shifting to new schools. I've had the great pleasure of getting to see what some of them are doing specifically in the Illustration and Animation departments, and I could not be happier to see so much talent bursting from them. Remember, that is coming internally from you: Your talents, skills, and passion to create. College is a vehicle for refining your ability to effectively use that art to support your livelihood and have a fulfilling career. Let your experiences fuel your motivations. Know that the institution does not make you, but it is what you make of the institution that matters. Any of the major Philadelphia Art Schools are capable of producing phenomenal juggernauts in the industry, because those individuals had that in them from the very beginning.

In the past day, I saw three posts on LinkedIn which have generated some thoughts, which I’m sharing here. I think and write a lot, but don’t post so much of It anymore - I’m not always sure whether it’s useful to do so. But this feels like something worth sharing, even if it’s only to give somebody out there some schadenfreude 😅. https://lnkd.in/e7tRc-Xw Last night I got an email about UArts closing. It completely blindsided me and almost everyone else. I started adjuncting there when I was a grad student at Drexel. I’ve always enjoyed teaching in their Professional Institute for Educators ed tech program for in-service teachers. It helped me stay connected to the world of educational practice and thinking about the practical applications of theories - and why it’s important to keep that in mind. I feel awful for the people impacted by this much more deeply than I am. Nobody had any idea, and now there are folks whose primary income is gone. There are students who were near to completing their educational journey, and others who were just starting it, who are now left with questions and anxiety. That being said, I now have some unexpected free time this summer (great!) but also will be missing some expected supplemental income (not so great!). And while we’ll survive, with four kids, we can always find a way to use that supplemental income. https://lnkd.in/eDdRTHmX Later, this post showed up in my feed. There’s some good advice here (YMMV). I’m currently doing the work I love to do, at a well-respected institution, surrounded by some of the best and brightest faculty, staff, and students in the United States. And yet, I’m waiting with fingers crossed for a renewal of my contract in July, as I have for the past two years. Furthermore, this will be an exceptional, and likely last, extension. It’s not so much about me being open to work as it is about finding work that’s open to me. https://lnkd.in/eYy9nZ53 Finally, I encountered this post from Dr. Hoadley. I only know him through his scholarship and reputation in the learning sciences, but that body of work is part of the reason why I feel such an affinity for the learning sciences. There’s some good advice to be found here, and it helps me think more holistically about everything else I just mentioned.

This article captures the significance of Joan Gabel's installation as the 19th chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh. It touches the historical weight of the occasion but also on her vision for the University's future. H2P! https://lnkd.in/eJdVFCu5

On 14th November Professor Simon Marginson from Department of Education, University of Oxford will be giving the prestigious The Worshipful Company of Drapers' Lecture at Queen Mary University of London, on the UK global research university in turbulent times.   Universities have always been highly international: it is central to their strengths, their identity and their contribution. What is the mission of a UK global research university today, how can policy-makers support them, and what is their accountability to stakeholders?   The UK’s post-Brexit loss of connections with Europe has been deeply felt by universities, and this has been echoed by revolts against internationalism in many parts of the world, which are now destabilising international education in several countries including UK. Geo-politics is also retarding international linkages especially in research. Policymakers in the UK are not engaged with the global mission. They are focused narrowly on graduate employment, which while important, is not the only thing that Universities bring. In this lecture Professor Marginson will be looking at where the problems lie, what we can be optimistic about in turbulent times: in short, the global (and decolonial possibilities) for UK universities.   You can sign up to join the lecture here: https://lnkd.in/e2ca6Ci8

“A unique concept of a multidisciplinary UG degree combining engineering, arts, and business, can foster interdisciplinary research and empower students to pursue their passions, free from parental pressures.” - Kiruba

Join Us at the ISDDE 2025 Conference for Educational Design in Math and Science! Are you passionate about improving STEM education? Whether you design learning materials, lead professional development, create assessments, shape curricula, or influence policy, we invite you to connect with a vibrant community of like-minded professionals at the ISDDE 2025 Conference. Hosted by University of Galway, Ireland, the conference will take place from May 19–22, 2025, under the theme: Expansive Design Across Borders, Cultivating Joy in Learning. This conference is your opportunity to share your work, learn from others, and explore innovative approaches to STEM learning. Even if you don’t typically consider your work as “educational design,” we hope ISDDE can become your professional home! Why Participate? Keynotes: Inspiring talks from leaders in educational design. Working Groups: Engage deeply with topics such as designing for joy, professional learning, or assessment design. Presentations: Share your research or design projects with an engaged audience. Poster Sessions: Showcase your ideas and learn from others. Call for Submissions We encourage everyone to present! Submissions are simple and flexible: Formats: •20-minute research presentations •30-minute interactive design workshops •Posters highlighting a design or study •Symposia: A collection of presentations around a theme (1–2 hours) Submission Deadline: March 1, 2025 Requirements: Title, 400-word abstract, presenter/author details Working Groups Collaborate in small, focused settings on these themes: •Designing for Joy •Expansive Design Across Borders •Designing for Learning Out of School •Designing for Professional Learning •Strategic Design Within Policy Contexts •Assessment Design Join the Conversation This is more than a conference—it’s a chance to join a global community dedicated to creating better STEM learning experiences. Together, we can make a difference! For registration and additional information, visit the conference website: https://lnkd.in/gkq2daHQ

Check out the last reports on #brandedcontent and download them from the #brandedcontentgovernanceproject, University of the Arts London

Last week the School celebrated its 30th anniversary at a special celebration attended by the University's Chancellor, HRH The Princess Royal. Speaking of the role the School has played in supporting and championing humanities research, as well as looking to the future, Professor Jo Fox, Dean of the School, said: “The world has changed a great deal since the School was formed in 1994 […] And while our world may be more connected than ever before, it is also a more divided, more fraught, and in many ways, a more precarious one.    “A critical, creative, and human approach is not only valuable in addressing [these] global challenges – it is indispensable. The humanities offer not only diagnoses, but increasingly we offer solutions. We see this every day in the research we support across the UK. “We will continue to champion and provide a home for groundbreaking research, strengthen our local and international partnerships, widen participation across our disciplines, and further the cause of humanities to understand ourselves and each other.     “In doing so we will equip future generations with the skills to answer the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.” https://lnkd.in/dEB2GTqv