The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) is more than a conference—it's a movement. It brings educators and researchers from all disciplines together with one common goal: to use research to improve teaching and learning in higher education. Unlike traditional academic conferences, SoTL is about action and application. Each session is designed to be interactive and transformative, inviting participants to do, not just listen. It's a space where innovative pedagogical practices are shared, tested, and refined in real time.
For EHL, the SoTL journey began eight years ago in Zurich. That first encounter sparked a lasting commitment to this unique approach, where the emphasis lies not on passive consumption of research but on reflective practice, experimentation, and community. Inspired by that experience, EHL has proudly hosted six editions of the SoTL conference—each with its own theme, insights, and legacy.
A Look Back: Highlights from Past SoTL Conferences at EHL
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2019 – Reflecting on Teaching and Learning
Theme: “Reflecting-in and Reflecting-on Teaching and Learning through Research”
This inaugural edition laid the foundation for SoTL at EHL by emphasizing reflective practice and teaching innovation. Educators explored their “teaching personalities” and delved into topics such as emotional engagement, intellectual quietness, and academic integrity. -
2020 – Rethinking Assessment
Theme: Holistic Evaluation Practices
Shifting away from traditional grading, this edition focused on dynamic and student-centered assessment strategies. It explored playful methods like mini-mocks and spontaneous recalls, highlighting the benefits—and limitations—of holistic evaluation. -
2021 – Cultivating Cognitive Skills
Theme: Fostering Critical Thinking and Reflection
Participants distinguished between critical thinking and critical reflection, exploring ways to integrate structured reflection, multiple perspectives, and educator role shifts into their pedagogy. -
2022 – Teaching in the Digital Age
Theme: Technology and New Learning Models
In response to the pandemic, SoTL embraced digital transformation. Sessions addressed hybrid teaching, asynchronous learning, AI, and co-constructive assessment tools—offering a roadmap for resilient, tech-enhanced education. -
2023 – Enhancing Active Learning Environments
Theme: From Online Back to the Classroom
This edition reemphasized in-person interaction and competency-based education. It focused on rekindling student engagement, defining personalized teaching styles, and reimagining educators as learning facilitators. -
2024 – GenAI in Education
Theme: “I am not a chatbot: SoTL meets technology”
The 6th edition addressed the transformative (and controversial) role of Generative AI in education. Sessions explored new forms of assessment, student creativity, and digital ethics in the age of AI. -
2025 – Pedagogical Partnerships for Student Success
Theme: Collaboration in Higher Education
The latest edition celebrated partnerships—between faculty, students, and technology. From peer coaching systems to Gen Z teaching strategies and GenAI applications in writing, this conference emphasized that teaching excellence is collaborative at its core.