HEIR Conference 2026 Enhancement, compassion, analytics and data: enabling institutional success

3-4 September 2026, Hosted by Abertay University, Dundee, Scotland for the UK and Ireland Higher Education Institutional Research (HEIR) network

Conference Theme

Using enhancement, compassion, analytics and data to enable institutional success

Can institutional research be both rigorous and compassionate? We think so.

This September, join us at Abertay University for a 2-day, in-person conference to explore how analytics, enhancement practices, and compassionate approaches combine to drive real institutional success.

We're challenging the sector to move beyond deficit thinking - using data not just to identify problems, but to understand what helps students thrive. How can our metrics capture diverse student experiences? How do we design systems and language to support student development? What does person-centred analytics actually look like in practice?

Whether you're a planner, analyst, academic, student support professional or student, this conference will explore how bringing head, heart and data together strengthens both student outcomes and institutional resilience.

Contact us at HEIR2026@abertay.ac.uk 

About

Click here to find out about the city of Dundee (host conference city), Abertay University (conference host), conference local organising committee and the UK and Ireland Higher Education Institutional Research (HEIR) Network.

Find out more

Key Information

Click here to find out about key conference dates, conference culture, conference privacy statement, sustainability pledge, health and wellbeing guide, civic engagement statement and inclusivity statement.

Find out more

HEIR 2026 Conference Theme

Enhancement, compassion, analytics and data: enabling institutional success. Click here to find out information relating to our conference theme, conference session types and the call for proposals. Call for proposals close on Tuesday 28 April 2026.

Find out more