ASET Annual Conference

Our conferences are renowned for being participatory, facilitating relevant and timely exploration of the new initiatives, projects and good practice that keep our members informed and inspired. The Covid-19 pandemic meant we had to change our plans for 2020 and led to #ASETConnect, our first online 2-day event. You can find out more about #ASETConnect here. We are very much looking forward to holding our 2021 Annual Conference at Keele University 7-9th September 2021, when we will be considering two of the key cultural and environmental themes that have shaped the Higher Education landscape and, our own practice as placement professionals – Inclusivity and Sustainability.

In the meantime Keep Safe and Stay in Touch.

Last Years Event

ASET Annual Conference 2019
#ASET19

Supporting Students in Times of Change
The Placement and Employability Professionals’ Conference
3rd – 5th September, University of Hertfordshire, De Havilland Campus

2019 ASET Conference Delegate Guide
The 2019 ASET Conference Delegate Guide, has info on what to expect, how to get there, what to bring, who to look out for – essential contact numbers and some top tips for first time attendees.

Conference Partner

Our Sponsors

Conference 2019 considered our role in Supporting Students in Times of Change, and featured speakers with experience of supporting in students in innovative ways.

Speakers :
Tuesday 3^rd
Dr Charlie Ball, Head of Higher Education Intelligence at Graduate Prospects
Charlie presented the latest info relating to graduate employment –
‘What do graduates do?’


Dr Alice Diver, Senior Lecturer in Law at Liverpool John Moores University. Editor of Employability via Higher Education: Sustainability as Scholarship , Alice’s keynote: Supporting students: Aiding Employability, Avoiding Litigation, presented recent legal issues affecting HE.

Wednesday 4^th
Ben Walker, Senior Lecturer in Academic Development, Manchester Metropolitan University and Vice-Chair of UKAT (UK Advising and Tutoring)
Ben co-authored the highly regarded Effective Personal Tutoring in Higher Education . His keynote  ‘More important than ever and yet impossible to deliver? Tackling the Advising and Tutoring conundrum with placement students’ considered important aspects of tutoring in relation to placement students.

Thursday 5^th
Alan Keegan, Director of Business Development (UK Partnerships), University of Central Lancashire
In his keynote ‘Jammin’ it up’, Alan discussed transitioning from ‘student’ to ‘employee’ in the new creative digital world and how the award-nominated concept, cJAM which allows students to pitch to professionals to win work placements, continues to develop.

All four speakers provided a platform for discussion throughout conference on the theme of Supporting Students in Times of Change.  Conference also featured updates from ASET on key issues for placement practititioners, with a focus on:

• Delivering quality services to students amid funding changes
• Making the most of technology to adapt to changes in work and placement opportunities
• Discussing student support needs on placement
• Thinking about the changing market of students and employers
• Empowering students to make the most of innovative opportunities
• Making change work for you, being positive
• Being bold and brave

Conference Programme
Day 1 – Tuesday 3^rd September
08:00 – 09:00  Breakfast (Monday night delegates only)
10:00 – 11:00  Registration and refreshments
11:00 – 11:15  ASET Welcome
11:15 – 11:30  Opening Address: University of Hertfordshire
11:30 – 12:15  Keynote: Dr Charlie Ball, Graduate Prospects,‘What do Graduates do?’
12:15 – 12:45  ASET AGM
12:45 – 13:30  Parallel Session 1 – Regional Hub Meetings
13:30 – 14:30  Lunch
14:30 – 15:00  Keynote: Dr Alice Diver, Liverpool John Moores University,
‘ Supporting students: Aiding Employability, Avoiding Litigation’
15:00 – 15:45  ASET Bursary Projects
Student Research Bursary Presentation
Summer Project Bursary Presentation
15:45 – 16:00  Refreshment break
16:00 – 17:00  Parallel Session 2
18:30                Drinks Reception
19:30                BBQ, The Oval, College Lane Campus

Day 2 – Wednesday 4^th September
08:00 – 09:00  Breakfast
09:00 – 9:15   Registration for day delegates
09:15 – 9:45   ASET On…
09:45 – 10:45  Parallel Session 3
10:45 – 11:00  Refreshment break
11:00 – 12:00  Parallel Session 4
12:00 – 12:45  Keynote: Ben Walker, Manchester Metropolitan University,
‘More important than ever and yet impossible to deliver?
Tackling the Advising and Tutoring conundrum with placement students’
12:45 – 13:45  Lunch
13:45 – 14:45  Panel Session Chaired by RateMyPlacement : Student perspectives on the support we give
14:45 – 15:30  Professional Development Tasters: Choose from 1 of 4 options
15:30 – 16:15  Professional Development Tasters: Choose from 1 of 4 options
16:15 –             ASET Practice & Research Network Meeting/ Free time
18:30               Drinks Reception
19:30               Gala Dinner, the Forum, College Lane Campus

Day 3 – Thursday 5^th September
08:00 – 09:00  Breakfast
09:00 – 09:30  Day registration / Time available for checking out and baggage store
09:30 – 10:30  Parallel Session 5
10:30 – 11:00  Refreshment break
11:00 – 12:00  Parallel Session 6
12:00 – 12:45  Keynote: Alan Keegan, University of Central Lancashire, ‘Jammin’ it up’
12:45 – 13:00  Conference Wrap-up & Close
13:00               Packed Lunch and depart

Thank you to all our speakers and guests. And thank you too to ASET Trustees helping to ensure your ASET conference continues to be unmissable.

Proceedings from the 2019 ASET Conference are now available to download.