Get hands-on with UNSW’s new learning platform at UNSW’s Education Festival on 23 and 24 November.
Edu Fest 2026 brings together two important parts of UNSW’s learning and teaching story: our much-loved annual celebration of education and educators, and the official launch of D2L Brightspace, our new Learning Management System (LMS).
Meet the team behind Brightspace
Alongside presentations and discussions led by our education community, Brightspace will feature throughout the program, giving you opportunities to explore the platform, ask questions and consider how it can support your teaching and learning priorities.
Joining us is senior leadership from D2L, the organisation behind Brightspace. Their visit reflects the significance of the work underway across UNSW. They'll share insights into emerging trends in digital learning, inclusive design and how higher education globally is embracing Brightspace to enhance teaching, learning and student success.
Whether you're curious about assessment innovation, student engagement, analytics or AI-enabled learning experiences, you’ll have opportunities to ask questions, see examples and connect with colleagues working through similar challenges.
Don't miss the Brightspace plenary
A major highlight will be the official launch of Brightspace to the UNSW community, bringing together UNSW and D2L leaders to explore the intersection of technology and pedagogy. It’s Tuesday’s headline session on Tuesday 24 November from 9–11am in the Science Theatre.
The morning program features:
- Opening address from Professor Sarah Maddison, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education & Student Experience.
- Keynote: Technology, Pedagogy and our EdTech Future, with Christian Pantel, D2L’s Chief Product Officer
- Panel: Unlocking human potential — Quality education for all in the digital age, exploring accessibility, inclusive learning, technology and student experience through UNSW and D2L perspectives.
The sessions will consider how emerging technologies can support quality education, how inclusive design can create better learning experiences, and what the future of digital learning could mean for UNSW.
Get hands-on with Brightspace
Looking to dive deeper? A series of Brightspace-focused masterclasses will help you move beyond the big-picture conversation and get hands-on with the platform.
Safe and ethical AI in higher education: Join Christian Pantel to explore D2L’s approach to the safe and ethical use of AI in higher education, including emerging Brightspace capabilities. Consider where AI can responsibly support teaching and learning, and what this means for educators and students.
Accessible learning of the future: D2L’s global accessibility lead, Sambhavi (Sam) Chandrashekar will help us discover how Brightspace can support disability access, online study and more inclusive learning experiences to create learning environments that work for the whole UNSW community.
Learning design and UX: Explore Brightspace’s built-in functionality for designing engaging, intuitive and student-centred courses with Kim Loebach, D2L’s Vice-President Professional Services. If you're designing, see how the platform can support effective learning design, a better student experience and identify ideas to explore further as part of Design Together.
Visit the Brightspace experience booth If you can't attend every session, make sure you stop by the Brightspace booth throughout Edu Fest. You can find the booth in the lobby of the Science Theatre all day Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 November.
The booth will offer:
✔ live Brightspace demonstrations and guided walk-throughs of key features
✔ opportunities to test and experiment with Brightspace
✔ one-on-one conversations with Brightspace specialists
✔ a chance to discover features, practical tips and resources .
Register now and be part of the conversation.Whether you come to share your educational practice, celebrate our educators, explore new technology or connect with colleagues, Edu Fest is an opportunity to participate in shaping the future of learning and teaching at UNSW.
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