D2L Brightspace Connect X HOGENT

Speaker:

• Rob Telfer, Senior Manager, EMEA Higher Education, D2L

Speaker:

• Robin Stevens, Director of Education, HOGENT

Technology offers various possibilities to support learning and instruction, such as presenting information, practising knowledge and skills, personalising learning environments, promoting collaboration, organising education in a flexible way, and supporting teachers. In line with the notion of affordances, the learning potential of educational technology is not a characteristic of the technology itself, but emerges from the interaction between the user (i.e., the learner, the teacher) and the instructional design of the technology-enhanced learning environment. Based on some studies conducted by Fien’s research group, Fien will present some affordances of technology for learning and instruction, with a particular focus on the instructional design of technology and its impact on teaching and learning. The session will end with some important considerations that contribute to the thoughtful and sustainable implementation of technology in education.

Speaker: 

• Fien Depaepe, Professor at the Center for Instructional Psychology and Technology (CIP&T) and itec, imec research group at KU Leuven

Presentation Resource:

• https://www.d2l.com/en-eu/resources/assets/affordances-of-technology-to-support-learning-and-instruction/

Following HOGENT’s selection of Brightspace and building on D2L’s experience supporting higher education institutions across Benelux, this session explores what’s next for Brightspace and what it means for institutions in the region.

Attendees will gain visibility into D2L’s public product roadmap, including confirmed developments over the next 0–6 months, alongside a forward-looking view of product direction across the next 6–18 months and beyond. The session highlights how Brightspace continues to evolve through strong foundations, adaptable capabilities, and close collaboration with Belgian institutions.

Designed for institutional leaders, IT teams, and digital learning professionals, this session offers clarity on upcoming innovation and insight into how D2L partners with institutions to support long-term success.

Speaker:

• Louise Plunkett, International Product Strategy Director, D2L

Presentation Resource:

• https://www.d2l.com/en-eu/resources/assets/what-belgian-institutions-can-expect-next/

At TU Delft, we transformed previous fragmented lecturer support (including Brightspace support) into a unified “One Stop Shop” model—providing a single point of contact for all teaching-related questions while maintaining specialised expertise behind the scenes.

This session shares our Brightspace implementation journey: the planning decisions we made, the organisational changes required, and practical lessons learned along the way. We’ll also focus on how we designed and built this integrated support model for lecturers from the ground up.

We’ll cover:

• User experience research that shaped our implementation approach
• Change management: our top-down/bottom-up approach explained
• Technical infrastructure: unified ticketing system and shared knowledge bases
• Measuring success: our framework for tracking efficiency and satisfaction

We’ll share practical examples from our setup process, including challenges we encountered and how we addressed them. Our open knowledge resources will be available for your own planning.

Whether you’re planning a new Brightspace implementation or improving existing support services, this session offers practical insights from our real-world experience. Leave with concrete examples and new inspiration to guide your own institution’s journey.

Speaker:

• Franca Jonquière, Manager Teaching and Learning Services, TU Delft

Presentation Resource:

• https://www.d2l.com/en-eu/resources/assets/how-tu-delft-led-the-team-through-an-lms-implementation/

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in higher education, institutions face a critical question: how do we design and deploy AI in ways that genuinely enhance learning while remaining aligned with academic values? This session explores what it means to move beyond experimentation toward purposeful, principled AI strategies.

Speaker:

• Louise Plunkett, International Product Strategy Director, D2L

Presentation Resource:

• https://www.d2l.com/en-eu/resources/assets/designing-purposefulai-for-learning/

Discover how the University of Groningen harnessed Brightspace to redefine digital exams and student engagement. This session highlights real-world innovation — from embedding digital testing within the LMS to building a single, intuitive student portal — and showcases how technology, user insight, and collaboration deliver scalable, seamless learning experiences. Whether you’re planning a platform transition, rethinking assessment, or enhancing learner services, this session offers actionable strategies for impact.

Speaker

• Josien de Boer, Coordinator Educational Applications, University of Groningen 

Presentation Resource:

• https://www.d2l.com/en-eu/resources/assets/scaling-innovation-in-digital-learning/

Speakers:

• Sofie Vandroemme, Head of Libraries, HOGENT
• Rob Telfer, Senior Manager, EMEA Higher Education, D2L

Join your fellow attendees and keep the momentum going at our Networking Reception. Mingle with fellow attendees and speakers for meaningful conversations and spontaneous connections. Whether you’re diving deeper into the days insights or simply enjoying good company, this is your chance to unwind and engage with fellow attendees.