Agenda | DETcon London

12:30 - 13:30 • DET University Challenge Awards Lunch

🎤 Conrad Heyns Director, Academic Literacies, Goldsmiths, University of London (Session Host) ✨ Adam Thompson MP Member of Parliament for Erewash, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary University Group Duration: 60 mins
13:30 - 13:35 • Welcome

✨ Michael Lynas Director, UK & Ireland, Duolingo English Test ✨ Jen Dewar Executive Director, Institutional Engagement, Duolingo English Test Duration: 5 mins
13:35 - 14:15 • A Brave New World: Technology’s role navigating turbulent times, thoughts for HE leaders

✨ Lord Walney Member of the House of Lords and Senior Advisor to Duolingo (Chair) ✨ Rt Hon Jack Straw Former UK Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary ✨ Dr. Laura Gilbert OBE Senior Director of AI, Tony Blair Institute & former AI Advisor to the UK Government 🎤 Katja Lamping Director, Student Recruitment, University College London (Session Host) Duration: 40 mins
14:15 - 15:00 • ‘State of the Union’: UKHE, Internationalisation & English Testing

✨ Martyn Edwards Director of External Relations, University of Leicester (Chair and Session Host) ✨ Jamie Arrowsmith Director, Universities UK International ✨ Nick Hillman Director, Higher Education Policy Institute ✨ Anne-Marie Graham Chief Executive Officer, UKCISA ✨ Katie Layt Director of Growth & Retention, Enroly Duration: 45 mins
15:00 - 15:20 • Networking Break

Duration: 20 mins
15:20 - 15:50 • Turbulent times and the technology sector: Luis’s take

✨ Jen Dewar Executive Director, Institutional Engagement, Duolingo English Test ✨ Prof. Luis von Ahn CEO & Co-Founder, Duolingo 🎤 Louise Blair Director of Partnerships, Education and Research, University of Essex (Session Host) Duration: 30 mins
15:50 - 16:45 • Duolingo Incubator: Five ways technology can democratise access to education

✨ Michael Lynas Director, UK & Ireland, Duolingo English Test ✨ Klinton Bicknell Head of AI, Duolingo ✨ Dr. Ramsey Cardwell Senior Communications Manager, Duolingo ✨ Dr. Steven Nydick Lead Psychometrician, Duolingo ✨ Michael Sobczak Senior Engineering Manager, Duolingo ✨ Prof. Alina von Davier Chief of Assessment, Duolingo 🎤 Andrew Disbury Chair of UK Advisory Group, Former PVC International (Chair) 🎤 Julia Jago Student Visa Compliance Manager, Royal Holloway, University of London (Session Co-Host) 🎤 Prof. Stephen Corbett Deputy Dean Faculty of Education, Health and Human Sciences, University of Greenwich (Session Co-Host) Duration: 55 mins
16:45 - 16:55 • The carbon cost of English proficiency testing

✨ Tamsin Thomas Senior Strategic Engagement Manager UK & Ireland, Duolingo English Test (Host) ✨ John Crick Director Partnerships, UK & Europe, International Education Sustainability Group Duration: 10 mins
17:00 - 17:15 • Reflections from the UK Advisory Group

✨ Michelle Stewart Former President of EAIE & University of Strathclyde (Chair) ✨ Chris Chang Deputy Vice Chancellor, Global Engagement & Student Life, University of Portsmouth ✨ Rob Carthy Director International Development, University of Northumbria ✨ Dr. Nicky Stecker-Doxat Associate Director of Admissions & Applicant Relations, University of the Arts London Duration: 15 mins
17:15 - 18:30 • The British Isles vs France: Cheese and wine reception

🎤 Lee Harris Senior Strategic Engagement Manager UK & Ireland, Duolingo English Test (Host) ✨ Ned Palmer Cheesemonger and Author Duration: 75 mins
18:30 - 20:00 • Brave New World – Navigating Turbulent Times with Rory Stewart

Amid global volatility and shifting geopolitics, what are the implications for higher education? Join Rory Stewart in conversation with journalist Sonia Sodha for thought-provoking insights and incisive analysis in our evening keynote. ✨ Sonia Sodha Journalist and Broadcaster (Chair) ✨ Rory Stewart Co-host of The Rest Is Politics Duration: 90 mins
20:00 - 21:00 • Access Dinner

UK Welcome Project: ✨ Michael Lynas Director, UK & Ireland, Duolingo English Test ✨ Laura Kaub Programme Director, Duolingo Scholars Duration: 60 mins
20:30 - 23:00 • After Hours Entertainment

Duration: 2.5 hrs