The 2025 Navitas University Partnership North America Virtual Learning and Teaching Conference

The 2025 Navitas University Partnership North America (UPNA) Virtual Learning and Teaching Conference, hosted by the UPNA Learning & Teaching Coordinators, Anne Rimrott and Nadia Nosrati, brought together instructors and staff from across six UPNA colleges, including FIC, ICM, TMUIC, WLIC, UICC, and QC GSSP.

This year’s conference, held under the theme “Understanding and Supporting Our Students,” explored how connection, care, and cognitive science intersect to shape effective, compassionate, and inclusive educational practice. Across the day’s sessions, a consistent message emerged: supporting our students means understanding their journeys, both inside and outside the classroom.

The conference opened with a student panel that set the tone for the day by inviting students to share their perspectives on what helps them learn and thrive.

Panellists Kush and Jimmy (TMUIC), Maria (WLIC), Ashmit (ICM), and Stephy and Rasya (FIC) shared candid reflections on their experiences transitioning to new academic systems and cultural environments.

They emphasised that instructors’ understanding and empathy make a tremendous difference, especially for international students adapting to new educational expectations. Kush highlighted how “it’s a lot for us to adjust to this new study system,” noting that consistent support and check-ins from instructors help students build confidence and feel connected.

Students also spoke about the importance of clear communication, especially given the diversity of accents, learning styles, and cultural backgrounds in Navitas classrooms. They shared that small gestures like checking in, encouraging attendance, and making space for questions can go a long way in helping them feel supported and engaged.

Following the student panel, Dr Lori Doan, Psychology Instructor at ICM, presented a session titled “The Science of Student Engagement.” Drawing from her work with the Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning at the University of Manitoba, Dr Doan offered a fascinating look at the neuroscience behind learning and what cognitive science can teach people about motivation, attention, and retention.

In another powerful session, FIC instructors Tim Christie and Ian Brooks guided participants through the concept of the Ethics of Care. This is a philosophy that redefines teaching as a relational practice rooted in empathy, fairness, and awareness of power dynamics.

Through examples of feedback, assessment flexibility, and inclusive syllabus design, Christie and Brooks showed how care can be actively demonstrated through tone, transparency, and flexibility. When students feel listened to, respected, and valued, they are more likely to engage meaningfully and see themselves as capable learners.

The conference concluded with an Après Chat, an informal discussion space where participants shared takeaways and reflected on how to apply what they learned in their own classrooms and teams.

Whether through neuroscience or care ethics, this year’s Learning and Teaching Conference highlighted a common goal across UPNA: building classrooms that are inclusive, engaging, and grounded in empathy, where every student has the support they need to thrive.