Learning Futures September
This month, we’re coming together to focus on the future of skills and education right here in Sussex. We’re returning to Runway East Brighton on Tuesday, 22nd September 2026, for an evening dedicated to sharing real-world insights, challenges, and ideas with practitioners in the space.
This month’s talks explore the future of learning by challenging the status quo and shifting focus toward human-centric, evidence-based design. The sessions critically examine the role of technical standards in the modern learning landscape, share real-world lessons on building practical, user-focused AI tools that keep humans at the center, and introduce proven design principles to help facilitators move away from traditional presenting to crafting truly impactful, participant-led learning experiences.
Peter Dobinson, Director - Learning Experience Enablement at Novartis
Why Do Standards Matter, and Why Might They Not?
For decades, learning and talent teams have relied on standards to connect systems, exchange data and scale experiences. From SCORM and xAPI to skills frameworks and LLM interoperability, standards have shaped the technology that underpins modern talent and development. But in a world increasingly powered by AI, are traditional standards still as important as they once were? This session explores the value, limitations and future of standards, examining when they accelerate innovation, when they create constraints, and what their role should be in the next generation of learning and workforce technology.
Rachelle Williams - Agile Coach, Consultant, Facilitator & Trainer at Furnell Training
Beyond the Slides: Why the Best Facilitators Stop Presenting and Start Designing
Most facilitators focus on what they’re going to say. The ones who leave a lasting impression focus on what they want people to experience. In this energising, interactive session, Rachelle Williams - one of a small number of certified Training from the Back of the Room Practitioner Trainers in the UK - introduces six evidence-based principles that transform how facilitators design and deliver sessions. You won’t just hear about them. You’ll feel the difference firsthand.
https://www.furnellprojects.co.uk
Daryl Hedley, Product Engineer at Kwantic
Can learning be improved with the use of AI?
In this session, Daryl will present the work he's been doing at some of the top universities. From creating human driven scenarios that supercharge the best part of AI to analysing tutor conversations to find "Moments" of what makes a good tutoring session. We will dive into stats, prompts, frustrations and why removing AI features changed our perspective on what users really want. This session is for anyone feeling overwhelmed with AI and wants to see what practical, real life applications of AI look like when they are combined with humans at the front and center.