Every student deserves to feel seen, heard, and valued. This stream champions inclusive practices that celebrate diversity and foster belonging. Learn how to dismantle barriers, amplify voices, and create communities where equity isn’t just a goal—it’s a lived reality.
Learn how the University of Nottingham Residential Experience Team support neurodiverse students from pre-arrival through to everyday living in halls of residence. How practical on the ground support, inclusive spaces and effective communication with relevant support services ensure our students thrive living with us in halls.
This session explores how Residence Life teams can build truly inclusive living environments that support and empower LGBTQ+ students. We will look at the foundations of LGBTQ+ inclusion in halls, developing understanding, challenging misconceptions, and fostering a culture of respect. Participants will gain practical strategies for staff training, student education, inclusive policies, and community building initiatives that ensure LGBTQ+ residents feel safe, affirmed, and able to thrive.
Residence life is more than housing—it’s a launchpad for personal growth. This stream explores programs and approaches that nurture leadership, resilience, and lifelong learning. Discover how to turn everyday experiences into opportunities for development and success.
Learn how to design and deliver impactful educational programming in residence. Topics include curriculum development, learning outcomes, and assessment strategies.
Dive into the design and impact of Living Learning Communities (LLCs). Learn how to align academic goals with residential experiences to foster student success, retention, and engagement.
Gamification is more than just fun—it’s a powerful tool for building community and increasing student participation. This session will introduce Residence Life professionals to game-based engagement strategies that transform traditional programming into interactive experiences.
Creating a secure and supportive environment is at the heart of residence life. This stream explores strategies to minimize risks, promote wellbeing, and ensure students feel safe and respected in their living spaces. From mental health initiatives to harm reduction policies, we’ll share practical solutions and success stories.
Explore harm reduction approaches to substance use in student housing. Learn how to educate, support, and intervene effectively while maintaining a safe and non-judgmental environment.
This session explores the rise of digital masculinity and the online manosphere, with a focus on how these influences can shape attitudes, identity, confidence, belonging, relationships and behaviour among students.
The workshop will examine how young men can be drawn into online spaces that promote harmful ideas around masculinity, women, relationships, status, rejection, success and emotional expression. It will also consider the wider impact this can have within student communities, including peer culture, social interaction, consent, respect, loneliness, isolation, mental wellbeing and residential life.
The session is practical, discussion based and relevant to those supporting students in residential settings. It will help delegates recognise key themes, understand how online influence can affect real world behaviour, and consider constructive ways to respond through early intervention, safeguarding awareness, positive conversations and community building.
Explore models for early intervention and risk assessment in student behaviour. Includes examples of cross-institutional partnerships and shared resources for managing complex cases.
Residence life programs are evolving. This stream focuses on cutting-edge ideas, bold strategies, and transformative practices that shape the future of student living. Dive into tech innovations, sustainability models, and strategic planning that redefine what it means to live and learn on campus.
This session will demystify data use in residence life. Learn how to turn raw data into actionable insights for programming, staffing, and strategic planning.
GSL and CUBO published their third insight report in June 2025, exploring what shapes student belonging, wellbeing, and satisfaction in student accommodation across the UK and Ireland.
Drawing on data from over 48,000 student responses in the GSL Index Spring 2025 wave, this report reveals:
...and much more. Read the full report here.
