HEPI fringe events at the 2026 Labour Party Conference

Overview

Join HEPI on Monday 28 September 2026 at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. This year, HEPI is hosting two fringe events and you are cordially invited to attend any of these, or all of them.

Please register your expression of interest if you wish to attend our fringe events (see link below).

The seminars will take place outside of the secure zone, so no conference pass is necessary.

Event 1

9.30am-10.30am – Higher Education Question Time, kindly supported by Duolingo, University of Leicester, Liverpool Hope University and Royal Holloway, University of London.

Speakers

• 

  Darren Paffey MP

  Labour MP for Southampton Itchen

• 

  Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah

  President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Leicester

• 

  Professor Penny Haughan

  Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Liverpool Hope University

• 

  Professor Julie Sanders

  Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Royal Holloway, University of London

• 

  Michael Lynas (Opening remarks)

  UK and Europe Director, Duolingo

• 

  Rose Stephenson (Chair)

  Director of Policy and Strategy, HEPI

Partners

Event 2

11am-12pm – ‘Soft power in a hardening world: is the UK making the most of its global educational assets?‘, kindly supported by Cambridge University Press & Assessment, The University of Manchester and University of the Arts London.

The UK has world-leading universities, research, science, culture and the English language. But in a more contested world, influence is no longer something the UK can take for granted. How can government, universities and cultural institutions turn these assets into stronger international partnerships, economic growth and national resilience? What role should English language and education play in the UK’s global offer? And can a Soft Power Strategy move the UK from ambition to delivery?

With support from Cambridge University Press & Assessment and The University of Manchester, this panel will examine how the UK can use soft power more strategically in a hardening geopolitical environment.

Speakers

• 

  Daniel Zeichner

  MP for Cambridge

• 

  Professor Duncan Ivison

  President and Vice-Chancellor, The University of Manchester

• 

  Professor Karen Stanton

  Vice-Chancellor, University of the Arts London

• 

  Francesca Woodward

  Global Managing Director for English, Cambridge University Press & Assessment

• 

  Dr. Naimatullah Zafary (Opening remarks)

  Former Afghan Chevening Scholar, University of Sussex

• 

  Nick Hillman OBE (Chair)

  Chief Executive, HEPI

Partners

Register

In common with other Party Conference fringe events, places will be available on a first-come, first served basis. 

Register your interest here: Expressions of Interest Form for the HEPI Fringe Events at the 2026 Party Conferences – Fill in form