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8 Jul 2010 08:53:07
‘Reflection in action’ was the theme of a three-day conference organised by the University to encourage health care professionals to develop an appreciation of reflection in their research and clinical practice.
The 16th International Reflective Practice Conference attracted up to 90 delegates over the three days from Canada and the US, New Zealand, Australia, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
There were a series of learning sessions and talks by respected leaders in the field of reflective practice who used the media of story, reflection, narrative and performance.
The event culminated in the keynote speech by the poet and novelist Ben Okri who, it was announced on the day by the Vice Chancellor Professor Les Ebdon CBE, is to receive an honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University.
Ben Okri’s speech focused on what it means to be human, the power of intuition and imagination, and living life as a “wonderful journey of discovery”.
He said: “Great obstacles are placed in the path of greatness and those that are able to overcome these obstacles discover that the struggle makes us more, the act of striving enables our growth. Difficulty is part of the magic of life.”
He also emphasised the importance of listening as a vital aid to communication and the potency of dreams. “In Nigerian culture dreams are interpreted as a text and we should learn to open the window between life and dreams.”
Professor of Nursing Dr Christopher Johns who convened the conference said that delegates commented positively on the 'spirit' of the conference, describing it variously as “intense”, “creative”, “insightful” and “spiritual”.
“The aim was to create a 'whole event' experience for delegates,” he said. “The feedback suggests that people had their eyes opened to the breadth, depth and possibilities of reflection, for example, in shaping a 'truly reflective curriculum' and using performance as a fundamental educational approach.”
Chris praised the Putteridge Bury conference and Knowledge Hub teams for doing such a terrific job in ensuring the whole event went smoothly.
Latest news» 2010» July» Reflections on a successful conference
