Join us in Nottingham this November, as the UCISA Corporate Information Systems and Project and Change Management Communities hosts their annual joint event - the Projects, Applications, Change, Enterprise and Data (PACED) Conference.
This community-led conference is focused on shared learning, we are not looking for polished perfection or “finished” transformation stories. Whether you are leading an institutional initiative, improving an operational process, introducing product thinking, managing legacy systems, exploring AI, or trying to deliver better services with limited capacity, we’d love to hear from you.
We welcome proposals from colleagues at all career stages, especially first-time speakers.
We welcome a range of session formats, including:
- Practical case studies
- Interactive workshops
- Panels and fireside chats
- Collaborative discussions
- “Work in progress” sessions
Conference Themes
- Resilience in Core Systems and Digital Services
Universities are operating in an increasingly uncertain environment shaped by financial pressures, geopolitical instability, evolving student expectations and rapid technological change. Core systems, products and digital services are no longer just operational platforms, they are central to institutional resilience, adaptability and continuity.We'd love to hear: How is your institution improving resilience across systems, products or digital services, balancing innovation with the realities of legacy technology, and what key lessons have emerged along the way?
- Digital Sovereignty, Control and Risk
As geopolitical tensions reshape supply chains and digital dependencies, institutions must re-evaluate assumptions around digital sovereignty, control and risk. Questions around where data resides, who governs it and the extent of reliance on global vendors are becoming increasingly critical. In a fragmented world, robust contingency planning is essential.We'd love to hear: How is your institution approaching digital sovereignty and risk, how confident are you in your visibility and control over, critical systems and external dependencies, and what emerging challenges should the sector be discussing more openly?
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AI, Delivery Models & Systems
Delivery models are evolving as AI unlocks new possibilities for operations and managing products, projects and change. The shift toward continuous value and product-centric thinking is accelerating, with AI supporting prioritisation, forecasting and decision-making across complex portfolios. AI is also reshaping delivery through enhanced planning, risk identification and benefits realisation, which is challenging traditional governance and funding approaches.We'd love to hear: Where are you seeing meaningful value from AI today, how is it changing the way your teams operate and deliver change, what risks and opportunities are emerging, and how are you moving from experimentation to practical adoption?
- People & Change
Technology alone is not enough. The success of AI-enabled transformation depends on people. Organisation and cultural change is essential to move from episodic initiatives to continuous adaptation, with change managers playing a critical role in building trust and guiding organisations through uncertainty.We'd love to hear: How are you supporting people through AI and digital change, building trust and confidence, improving adoption of systems and digital services, and what has or hasn’t worked in practice?
- Security and Wellbeing
Cyber and security threats are intensifying, while the growing use of data and AI adds further complexity. Institutions must ensure that security, governance, and ethical frameworks keep pace with innovation to build trust and unlock value. Alongside this, systems must support wellbeing, not contribute to overload, particularly in a context of constrained funding and competing priorities.We'd love to hear: How are your institution balancing innovation, security and wellbeing while making the right investment decisions for long-term resilience?
- Value and Service Improvement
Universities are under pressure to get more value from the systems, platforms and digital services they already have. As budgets tighten and expectations rise, institutions need to move beyond implementing technology and focus on whether products are being adopted, used well and delivering meaningful outcomes.We'd love to hear: How is your institution using product thinking to improve adoption, prioritisation and long-term value from digital systems and services?
If you or your colleague would be interested in speaking at this event, please submit a proposal via this form (submission deadline is Friday 10th July). Please note that this call for speakers form is intended for UCISA Institutional Members only.
If you are a UCISA Corporate Member, please submit your sponsorship proposal by completing the enquiry form to be considered for a speaking opportunity (submission deadline is Friday 17th July).
