The GMSWA host an annual Practice Educator inviting experts in Practice Education to come and share their research, experience, learning and updates. These events are open across all our partners in Greater Manchester, providing learning and networking opportunities.
Practice Educator Conference 2026
The conference for 2026 was on 8th June at The Pendulum Hotel, Sackville Street, Manchester M1 3BB.
The theme for this conference was:
“Creativity in Practice Education”
This was a World Café-style Conference which is an interactive, conversational, and collaborative workshop format designed to harness collective intelligence. It facilitates discussions in small, revolving groups of 4-6 people at tables arranged like a café, focusing on shared, meaningful questions over several 10-15 minute rounds.
Key Features and Principles include
Casual setting with small tables, to foster relaxed open dialogue. Small Group Discussions: to explore curated questions at each table. “Table Hopping” where participants move to new tables to share insights from previous discussions, with one person staying at each table to welcome new groups and summarize previous discussions, ensuring continuity.
Collective Harvest: The session concludes with a discussion to share key insights with the entire group.
Workshops
Workshops were held in the afternoon covering:
Creative Ideas to facilitate Group work with students
and
The Collingwood – KIT Model
