Educational media that works

Leuven, Belgium   |   18-19 June 2025

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More and more the question posed to all members of the Media & Learning community is whether the media supported resources and learning opportunities that they create really make a difference when it comes to learning. What if there were more immersive elements? A stronger focus on story-telling? More involvement of students? More and better production techniques supported by AI? In an environment where dwindling resources are increasingly the norm, knowing how to make the very most of every opportunity to improve learning is, for all of us, a very real priority.

This is why the organisers of this year’s Media & Learning conference have opted for the tagline Educational media that works as we believe it points to the importance of making the best-informed choices that we can when it comes to choosing and using media. This year’s event, organised jointly with KU Leuven’s Learning Lab, will be jam-packed with opportunities to share and learn from colleagues. Taking place in the historic city of Leuven in Belgium on 18-19 June 2025, this event will bring together a vibrant community of educators, researchers, and innovators from different parts of Europe and beyond who are equally passionate about leveraging media in support of learning in higher education.

This conference is aimed at all staff working in centres for teaching and learning, educational media production centres, learning innovation departments, educational departments, audiovisual services as well as researchers and policy-makers keen to explore the added value of media in teaching and learning. At its heart is an exploration of the who, how, what, why and where of educational media production in higher as well as other associated educational sectors.

*Due to space limitations, registration will be necessary to attend some sessions taking place in smaller rooms at the upcoming conference. We'll share the registration link one week before the event, on June 11th at 12:00 CEST, ensuring equal opportunity for all interested participants. Please note that there won't be waiting lists, but in the event of no-shows on-site, available seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We hope that this approach will help us manage attendance efficiently and guarantee a comfortable experience for all attendees. Keep an eye out for the registration link, which will be shared via email, to secure your spot !

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Keynotes

Keynote speakers @ Media & Learning 25

*More keynote speakers will be announced soon.

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Thomas Espeseth,

University of Oslo, Norway

Attention, Curiosity, and Memorability: Insights from Cognitive Science and AI

Why do some images, words, or experiences remain vivid in memory, while others vanish quickly? Cognitive science research reveals that attention, curiosity, and memory are shaped by the brain’s limited capacity and how it prioritizes information. Everyday experiences like inattentional blindness and divided attention show how easily we can overlook important details. Studies on memorability have uncovered consistent patterns in what people remember and forget. AI can now identify and enhance memorable content, opening new possibilities for optimizing learning and retention.

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Thierry Koscielniak,

President of France Immersive Learning / Executive Advisor, Arts et Metiers Institute of Technology, France

Looking for a media that works? Try Immersive Learning!

In a world where digital transformation reshapes education, Immersive Learning emerges as a game-changer. Combining the power of virtual, augmented, and mixed realities, it transcends traditional media, offering deeply engaging, experiential learning. But does it truly work? Drawing from research, industry trends, and real-world implementations, this keynote will showcase how immersive learning enhances retention and engagement. From engineering simulations to soft-skills training, discover why institutions and industries worldwide are adopting this mind blowing approach.
If you’re looking for a media that transforms learning, this is it!

Testimonials

"The conference is always a delight, offering a warm and welcoming space to reconnect with colleagues from around the globe. Its low-threshold approach makes it accessible to everyone, fostering an inspiring exchange of both systematic research and practical ideas that can be immediately applied in higher education." Andy Thys, Instructional Designer KU Leuven, Belgium

"Media & Learning conferences have been an incredible experience for me. They bring together a great mix of passionate professionals from the media and education sectors. The event perfectly bridges these two worlds, fostering insightful conversations and inspiring collaborations. It’s the ideal space to exchange ideas and learn from innovative thinkers." Carlos Turro Ribalta, Head of Media Services department Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain

"Attending the Media & Learning conference was an invaluable experience. It offered a unique opportunity to connect with educators from around the world who share a passion for blending learning design and media to shape the future of online education. The insights, collaborations, and innovative ideas I gained have greatly enriched my perspective, while the relationships I’ve built are opening new doors to drive meaningful change in our work." Jeremy Nelson, Senior Director of XR, Media Design & Production University of Michigan, USA

"Attending the M&L event is an experience filled with innovation and international appeal, bringing together a vibrant space full of smart people eager to explore the future of education. Each session leaves you wanting more, offering unmatched networking opportunities where connections often spark the beginnings of beautiful friendships. This is not just a conference; it’s an inspiring journey that stays with you long after it ends." Monika Theron, Team lead Data & Media Leiden University, The Netherlands

"I look forward to the Media & Learning conference every year. An excellent opportunity to be updated on new developments about media in education, or to get a fresh perspective on things you thought were already crystallised. In addition, a great place to catch up with old acquaintances and make new friends." André Rosendaal, e-Learning Project Manager, University of Groningen, the Netherlands

Speakers and moderators

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Cornelia Amon

IMC Krems University of Applied Sciences, Austria

jella bernaerts

Jella Bernaerts

Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Belgium

Evert binnard

Evert Binnard

KU Leuven, Belgium

roland boettcher

Roland Boettcher

Bochum University of Applied Sciences, Germany

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Erik Boon

Vrije Universiteit, The Netherlands

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Minjung Cho

Leiden University, The Netherlands

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Ilaria Bucciarelli

University of Florence, Italy

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Maaike Compagnie

Hogeschool Rotterdam, The Netherlands

marta bustillo

Marta Bustillo

University College Dublin, Ireland

Couperthwaite

John Couperthwaite

Kaltura, UK

camandona

Fabiola Camandona

University of Turin, Italy

crotty

Yvonne Crotty

Dublin City University, Ireland

dawitz

Julia Dawitz

University of Amsterdam, Teaching and Learning Centre, The Netherlands

Dawood

Hussein Dawood

University of North Texas, USA

decooker

Jessy De Cooker

Fontys Hogescholen, The Netherlands

anouk den hamer

Anouk den Hamer

Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands

dewaele

Katrien Dewaele

UCLL, Belgium

Diesen

Even Igland Diesen

NTNU, Norway

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Stuart Dinmore

University of South Australia, Australia

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Zeta Dooly

South East Technological University, Ireland

Carl-Eltervaag

Carl Eltervaag

The Writing Centre, NTNU, Norway

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Geoff Fortescue

University of Edinburgh, UK

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Nele Goutier

Fontys Hogescholen, The Netherlands

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Emerald Grimshaw

Durham University, UK

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Lucy Hamilton

University of Leeds, UK

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Bjørn Ivar Haugdal

University of South-Eastern Norway, Norway

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Jana Herwig

University of Vienna, Austria

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Sonia Hetzner

FAU, Germany

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Ralf Hillebrand

Hogeschool Rotterdam, The Netherlands

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Esben Kamstrup

NTNU, Norway

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Myfanwy Howarth

University of Leeds, UK

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Jeroen Kelder

Npuls, The Netherlands

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Virginia Jagusch

Universität Osnabrück, Germany

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Lucy Kendra

Heriot-Watt University, UK

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Matt Jevons

University of Leeds, UK

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Praneet Khandal

Leiden University, The Netherlands

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Paul Lashmana

KU Leuven, Belgium

leysens

Greet Leysens

KU Leuven, Belgium

Magruder

Olysha Magruder

Johns Hopkins University, USA

latronico

Rossana Latronico

Ministry of Education, Italy

locmele

Klinta Locmele

University of Latvia, Latvia

meijer

Charlotte Meijer

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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Pien Leeuwenburg

Leiden University, The Netherlands

macdermot

Alexa MacDermot

University College Dublin, Ireland

meite

Jenny Méité

UbiCast, France

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Raf Lehaen

KU Leuven, Belgium

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Wim Machiels

KU Leuven, Belgium

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Ken Molloy

Oide, Ireland

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John Murray

University of Galway, Ireland

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Timo Nogueira Brockmeyer

Universität Osnabrück, Germany

pareigis

Jörg Pareigis

Karlstad University, Sweden

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Zoë Pauwels

KU Leuven KICK, Belgium

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Lara Pedraz

Leiden University, The Netherlands

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Alexander Piwowar

Universität Osnabrück, Germany

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Laurie Peeters

KU Leuven, Belgium

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Rüdiger Rolf

Universität Osnabrück, Germany

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Stuart Perrin

Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), China

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André Rosendaal

University of Groningen, The Netherlands

anke pesch

Anke Pesch

KU Leuven, Belgium

scott

Lana Scott

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

sels

Kristine Sels

Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Belgium

sloyan

Laura Sloyan

Dublin City University/ St. Aidan's Community School, Ireland

smits

Diane Smits

Npuls, The Netherlands

stes

Stef Stes

KU Leuven, Belgium

talarico

Melania Talarico

University of Turin, Italy

tang

Florence Mei Kuen Tang

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

thys

Andy Thys

KU Leuven, Belgium

timmermans

Hans Timmermans

Biamp, Belgium

tischner

Markus Tischner

FAU, Germany

toffanin

Marco Toffanin

University of Padova, Italy

turro

Carlos Turró

Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain

twabu

Khanyisile Twabu

UNISA, South Africa

v.

Vijay Kumar V.

School of Communications, XIM University, India

Elke Van Ael

Elke Van Ael

KU Leuven, Belgium

vanhunsel

Alexander Vanhulsel

Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Belgium

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Vincent Vanrusselt

Research Group of the XR Action Plan Flanders, Belgium

walker

John Walker

SURF, Npuls, The Netherlands

wiersma

Emma Wiersma

University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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Karen Winther

LINK, University of Oslo, Norway

wouters

Coony Wouters

Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Belgium

wurdermann

David Würdemann

Constructor University, Germany

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Eline Wydooghe

VIVES University of Applied Sciences, Belgium

Venue

This year’s Media & Learning Conference is being held in the splendid Provincie Vlaams-Brabant - Provinciehuis.

Provincie Vlaams-Brabant - Provinciehuis is about a 10 minute walk from the train station and an 20 minute walk from the city centre.

Take a look at our suggested accommodations and travel advice. Please note that we have no affiliation with any travel agency should you be contacted to arrange your stay.

Provincie Vlaams-Brabant - Provinciehuis

Provincieplein 1

3010 Leuven

Belgium

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Thanks to our exhibitors and sponsoring members for their continued support.