2026 CEDHE Forum
The Community for Environmental Disciplines in Higher Education (CEDHE) Committee invites you to join them for the 2026 AGM & Forum.
This year’s free online CEDHE Forum will bring together educators, employers, and industry professionals to explore the evolving landscape of professionalising environmental education. We will explore key themes related to curriculum development, industry needs, and the essential competencies required for graduates to succeed and progress in the environmental sector. Through engaging presentations, discussions, and Q&A sessions, participants will have the opportunity to share best practice and shape the future of environmental education.
Key themes
The student perspective: Hear from IES Student Ambassadors as they share insights on skills development and graduate skills needs. They’ll provide an overview of this year’s National Careers Week webinars, highlighting advice and key skills recommended by industry professionals.
Employer perspectives: In this session, employers will share insights on graduate skills in the sector, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement.
Competencies: Explore professional competency frameworks and how programmes can align with competencies required for registration.
Curriculum professionalisation: This session will share case studies and highlight best practices in the sector through lightning presentations, offering key takeaways to implement at your institution.
Who should attend the forum?
Academics & Researchers | Environmental Science Students & Graduates | PhD Students | Non-teaching University Staff | CEDHE Members & Accreditation Contacts | Careers Advisors | Employers of Environmental Science Graduates
The 2025 CEDHE Forum brought together educators, students, and professionals for a virtual day of insights and discussion on the theme “Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Environmental Education: Innovations and Opportunities.”
The event opened with a keynote presentation from Professor Derek France (University of Chester) and Dr Sonja Rewhorn (Open University), who explored the transformative potential of AI in teaching and learning in Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Key themes
AI in Teaching and Assessment
Representatives from Manchester Metropolitan University, UWE Bristol, and the University of Stirling shared approaches to embedding AI in curriculum design, staff development, and assessment practices. Case studies illustrated frameworks for ethical AI use and research into staff and student perceptions. All of the presentations are available to watch on the IES YouTube channel, please see below to catch-up on specific sessions from the day.
- Approaches to AI at Manchester Metropolitan University, Graham Smith and Dr Rachel Dunk
- Exploring student and staff perceptions of opportunities and challenges associated with Generative AI, Dr Maria Casado-Diaz
- Implementing a Clear AI-use Framework for Assessments: A Case Study, Dr Viktoria Mileva
AI in the Field
Speakers from the University of Birmingham and University of Portsmouth explored AI’s growing role in fieldwork – from enhancing data collection and interpretation to tackling training gaps and practical implementation challenges. Participants then took part in breakout discussions, sharing ideas and experiences. All of the presentations are available to watch on the IES YouTube channel, please see below to catch-up on specific sessions from the day.
- Using AI in fieldwork: staff awareness, experiences and challenges, Dr Lesley Batty
- Using AI in the field, Dr Ian Hendy
The Student Voice
The IES Student Ambassadors led a thought-provoking session on the ethical and equitable use of AI from a student perspective. The session explored accessibility, cultural differences, academic integrity, and how AI can empower students when used responsibly. You can catch-up on this session on the IES YouTube channel.
AI in the Professional Workplace
Industry leaders from Ramboll and Arup discussed the evolving demands of the environmental sector and how AI is transforming roles in data science and air quality. The session offered valuable insights into the rapid enhancement of technology and the subsequent skills demand from incoming graduates. You can catch-up on this session on the IES YouTube channel.
Building on the momentum and areas of discussion from the Forum, CEDHE hopes to continue to support its community in navigating the evolving role of AI in environmental education.
Header image credit: © Prostock-studio | Adobe Stock
The Community for Environmental Disciplines in Higher Education (CEDHE) Committee invites you to join them in discussion at the 2025 AGM & Forum. The 2025 forum is taking place from 10:00 – 15:30 BST on Zoom.
This year’s free online CEDHE Forum will bring together environmental education practitioners, students, and industry professionals to explore the transformative potential of generative AI in HE environmental education. Join us to learn about cutting-edge applications, share best practices, and explore how we can engage with AI to enhance our students’ learning and outcomes.
View the Agenda for this event
Who should attend the Forum?
Academics & Researchers | Environmental Science Students & Graduates | PhD Students | Non-teaching University Staff | CEDHE Members & Accreditation Contacts | Careers advisors | Employers of Environmental Science Graduates
Please note: The CEDHE AGM (CEDHE Institutional members only) will be held between 09:30 and 10:00am, and will be followed by the CEDHE Forum (members and non-members welcome) from 10:00am to 3:15pm. Registration for this event will be for both the AGM and Forum, consider amending the calendar invite to start at 10am if you are not a CEDHE Institutional member or if you only wish to attend the Forum.