ASE 2027 Annual Conference

This interactive session will explore how collaborative, cross-institutional communities of practice can support higher education science educators in responding to emerging pedagogical challenges. The session will introduce the collaborative work of the BERG Higher Education Working Group through two current thematic areas: AI and assessment and decolonising the curriculum.

Through a series of short reflective case studies and emerging examples from participating HEIs, contributors will share approaches, challenges, and ongoing questions relating to inclusive curricula, assessment design, and the impact of generative AI on teaching and learning.

Participants will then be invited to discuss their own institutional experiences, challenges, and priorities within these areas. The session will encourage collaborative dialogue across disciplines and institutions, recognising that many of these challenges extend beyond bioscience education alone.

The session will conclude with a shared reflection on the role of collaborative networks and communities of practice in supporting responsive, inclusive, and evidence-informed approaches to science education in higher education.

Outcomes: - Participants will be able to:

Share current challenges and emerging practices relating to AI, assessment, and inclusive curricula within higher education science education.

Reflect on how different HEIs are responding to shared pedagogical and curricular challenges.

Discuss opportunities and barriers associated with collaborative approaches to educational change.

Consider how cross-institutional communities of practice can support ongoing professional dialogue and development.

Higher education science educators are navigating rapid pedagogical, curricular, and technological change. In response to shared challenges across the sector, members of the Biology Education Research Group (BERG) Higher Education Working Group, part of the Royal Society of Biology, established collaborative thematic groups focused on AI and assessment, and decolonising the curriculum. These groups bring together educators and academics from multiple HEIs to share practice, reflect on emerging challenges, and explore approaches to inclusive and responsive science education.