Discover how the unique and emerging challenges highlighted at this important conference can be addressed with powerful learning technologies.
Hosted at University College London, UKAT2025 was all about one thing: personal tutoring. As a digital learning platform that champions student development, reflective practice and authentic learning, PebblePad couldn’t not be there.
Personal tutoring plays a vital role in supporting the whole student learning journey, and we know our ePortfolio platform is uniquely placed to enable these conversations and connections. It was why I was thrilled to attend the event on behalf of our Customer Success team.
People powered
What struck me most throughout the conference was the sheer passion and dedication of staff working in personal tutoring roles – often behind the scenes – who make a real impact on student wellbeing, belonging and success. The sessions, workshops and panel discussions provided not only great insights into current sector challenges but also gave attendees the space to exchange ideas and celebrate what’s working well.
This collaborative and collective approach acted as a powerful reminder that personal tutoring is not just a task. It’s a relationship and a responsibility – and, judging from my experiences at UKAT2025, these are two principles professionals working within this vibrant sector embrace wholeheartedly with genuine passion and commitment.
Digital learning journeys
Several themes emerged during the event: The need for consistency in tutoring approaches, the value of early student engagement and the importance of visibility in progress and support. Many delegates shared how they’re looking for digital tools to help streamline processes, provide scaffolding education and empower both tutors and students with ownership of the tutoring experience.
This is where powerful learning technologies like PebblePad come in, offering structured templates, reflective learning spaces and flexible workflows that support one-to-one engagement and ongoing personal development. For instance, I had some brilliant conversations with attendees exploring how PebblePad is already being used across institutions to support personal tutoring – whether through bespoke workbooks, meeting logs or integrated support plans.
Other attendees were excited by the potential to better align tutoring with academic advising, careers support and learning journey analytics. It was clear that the sector is ready to move from theory to action – and that PebblePad can help bridge the gap.
Final reflections
Attending UKAT2025 was an inspiring reminder of why we do what we do. As personal tutoring continues to evolve, so must the tools and platforms that support it to ensure tutors and students benefit from the best possible learning tools, experiences and outcomes.
I left the conference energised, full of ideas and more confident than ever that PebblePad has a meaningful role to play in shaping the future of student support within learning journeys – no matter where the future takes the sector.
- A huge thank you to the organisers and everyone who stopped by for a chat and made the event so worthwhile.
