Symposium: Scaling complexity, critical thinking, and systems thinking skills for the future of higher education

Date: 15 April 2026
Location: Online (Zoom)
Hosted by: Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice (JUTLP)
Registration: Free (required for presenters and attendees)

About the Symposium

This international online symposium provides a space for authors with accepted abstracts for the JUTLP Special Issue on Scaling Complexity, Critical Thinking, and Systems Thinking Skills for the Future of Higher Education to present and discuss their working papers.

The event aims to support early dissemination of research, foster international dialogue, and provide developmental editorial feedback ahead of full manuscript submission. Presenters will receive constructive feedback from the guest editors and peers, with opportunities to strengthen theoretical framing, methodology, and applied relevance prior to formal review.

Background

Higher education faces a growing need to prepare learners to navigate complex, uncertain, and interconnected global systems—including the rapid integration of artificial intelligence, sustainability challenges, and digital transformation.
This symposium invites researchers and practitioners exploring how universities can cultivate complex, systemic, and critical thinking skills to prepare learners for the future of work, learning, and global citizenship.

Key Themes

The symposium presentations will align with the Special Issue themes, including but not limited to:

• Scaling the “What”: Learning environments for developing complexity and metacognition

• Scaling the “How”: Pedagogies for future teaching and learning

• Scaling the “Who” and “Where”: Cross-sector and interdisciplinary learning

• Scaling for the Future “Why”: Innovation and foresight in higher education

Audience

This event welcomes:

• Authors of accepted abstracts for the special issue

• Academics, educational leaders, and researchers in teaching and learning innovation

• Policy and professional stakeholders interested in complexity, systems thinking, and AI in education

Program Overview

• Opening keynote: Guest Editors’ Panel

• Parallel paper sessions: Presentation and discussion of accepted working papers

• Editorial roundtables: Feedback and pathways to publication in JUTLP

Important Dates

• Abstract acceptance notifications: 15 January 2026

• Symposium: 15 April 2026 (online)

• Full article submissions due: 15 May 2026

Guest Editors

• Professor María Soledad Ramírez Montoya, UNESCO Chair Open Educational Movement for Latin America, México

• Professor Aarti Yadav, Central University of Haryana, India

• Professor Jairo Lugo Ocando, Sharjah University, United Arab Emirates

• Professor Jane-Frances Agbu, National Open University of Nigeria, Nigeria

Enquiries

For enquiries about the symposium or the Special Issue, please contact:
Professor María Soledad Ramírez Montoya
✉️ solramirez2009@gmail.com