Dr Josephine Gabi is a Reader (Associate Professor) in Education at Manchester Metropolitan University and a Lead Education Innovation Scholar. Grounded in Black feminist thought and shaped by co-liberatory and anticolonial praxis, her scholarship examines how coloniality is reproduced and can be challenged through re-embodiment of research ethics, pedagogical practice and everyday relational encounters in higher education.
Alongside her research, Josephine provides strategic leadership across equity, personal tutoring, academic advising and inclusion across the Faculty of Health and Education. She is Co-Founder and Lead of The Collective at Manchester Met, a cross-university initiative that brings academic and professional services colleagues together in principled collaboration to advance racial equity and develop context-specific solutions that align with institutional strategy.
Outside the Manchester Metropolitan University, Dr Gabi is a Trustee of the United Kingdom Advising and Tutoring Association (UKAT), a professional recognition mentor and assessor, a founding Chair of the UKAT Equity and Inclusion Special Interest Group and a recipient of the UKAT’s Outstanding Contribution to UK Advising and Tutoring Award (2024).
The Manchester Convention Bureau caught up with Dr Gabi to learn more about the largest to date UKAT Annual Conference which took place at Manchester Metropolitan University (13-14 April 2026), the future of advising and tutoring and the power of in-person events in shaping future directions in the sector.
This year’s conference was dedicated to ‘Student Futures’, reflecting the association’s commitment to student empowerment, which aligns closely with your research and practice. Could you tell us a bit about your professional background and what initially drew you to Manchester and Manchester Met?
I am especially interested in the transformative possibility of personal tutoring as a strategic pillar of student success in higher education. My work is anchored by values that uphold dignity, hope and co-liberation. This calls for respect, empathy and care in our relational encounters. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us that “we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny,” which means “whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” These values guide my work at Manchester Metropolitan University and much of it focuses on tackling differential outcomes and driving meaningful change through practices and processes that foster a culture where students feel valued, belong and thrive and staff receive recognition for their invaluable personal tutoring work through the UKAT Professional Recognition Scheme.
Manchester Met stands out for its civic commitment and for having courageous conversations about inequity, belonging and transformative practice in higher education. Values that are closely reflected in my own research and practice. We have a strong focus on inclusivity, partnership, community and practical impact. This is noticeable not just in plans, but also in daily interactions among staff, students and our wider community.
Congratulations on the resounding success of the UKAT Annual Conference. Can you tell us a bit about the association and the main objectives of this year's conference in Manchester?
Thank you. It was a real privilege to host the UKAT conference in Manchester which was recognised as ‘the largest and most successful conference to date’.
UKAT brings together educators, professional services colleagues, researchers and students who are committed to strengthening advising and personal tutoring in higher education. At its heart, UKAT is about recognising that student success is shaped by, among other things, meaningful, trusting relationships, belonging, care and intentionally inclusive cultures. This holistic approach set the tone for the conference in Manchester, connecting directly with its theme of 'Student Futures.'
This year’s conference invited delegates into a sustained and collective reflection on the kinds of ‘Student Futures’ higher education is nurturing and the assumptions that quietly shape them. It encouraged us to consider what students may go on to do, how current educational practices, structures and relationships are actively authoring those futures perhaps in (un)even ways. It also asked bold and necessary questions about whose futures are imaginable, being made visible and supported in higher education and whose futures remain constrained, deferred or rendered unthinkable. Throughout the conference, we had powerful conversations about student partnership, neurodiversity, mental health, racially minoritised student experiences, international students, the acceleration of artificial intelligence, trauma-informed practice and relational approaches to education.
Delegates described the conference as a genuine community that is rooted in generosity, reflection and collaboration. Many attendees said they left feeling ‘re-energised, intellectually inspired and more connected to the purpose of their work’.
You lead the Faculty of Health and Education on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. What are Manchester Met's strongest areas of expertise that position it well as the host for this year’s conference?
Through excellent education and research, Manchester Met is delivering real-world impact in Manchester and beyond. The University is committed to delivering impactful education, widening participation in higher education, improving student success, alongside supporting mental health and wellbeing to create an inclusive learning environment where all students can thrive. These are all values which closely align with the core themes of the UKAT conference.
The conference demonstrated some of these strengths in action. Delegates repeatedly praised the warmth, professionalism, sense of care and collegiality. Students played a central role as co-presenters, contributors and partners on the UKAT Student Advisory Board. They also led on various activities such as campus tours, cloakroom organisation and management which reflected the conference theme of ‘Student Futures’ in practice.
There was also important value in hosting this event at Manchester Met which is situated in the heart of a vibrant, diverse and globally connected city. The University benefits from its place in Manchester, a city which fosters innovation and collaboration, and welcomes conversations about access, equity and opportunity.
What benefits did hosting the UKAT Annual Conference bring to you personally, the university and the wider academic community?
Hosting the conference was incredibly meaningful. It was an opportunity to bring together colleagues who care about and for students, to hold space for transformative dialogue and to share practice and research intelligence. There was a real sense of collective generosity throughout the conference.
The conference also showcased Manchester Metropolitan University as a trusted host for large-scale, sector-leading events. We received praise for our professionalism, warmth and attention to detail. Delegates consistently appreciated the organisation, atmosphere, facilities and staff support. These contributed to a welcoming experience. The event highlighted not only the university’s conference infrastructure but also its values and culture. This is reinforced by recognition from the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, which named Manchester Metropolitan University as Modern University of the Year 2026, one of the most prestigious honours in UK higher education. This achievement highlights our university strengths in delivering outstanding teaching, impactful research, excellent student experience, alongside state-of-the-art facilities.
For the wider academic community, the UKAT conference offered a valuable space for reflection at a time when higher education is under significant pressure and uncertainty. Many delegates left feeling validated, re-energised and reminded of the importance of their personal tutoring and academic advising work. Beyond this, the conference helped position both UKAT and Manchester Metropolitan University as places where care, belonging, partnership and scholarly rigour coexist. In a sector that often separates academic excellence from relational practice, the UKAT conference demonstrated its interconnectedness, with many delegates commenting on the intellectual value, sense of community, affirmation and humanity throughout the event.
What kind of feedback have you received from delegates regarding their impression of this year’s conference, the city and Manchester Met?
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. UKAT gathered responses both formally through delegate feedback survey and informally through conversations and social media. Delegates often described the conference as one of the best they had attended. They highlighted not only the quality of the sessions but also the atmosphere of welcome, care and community. The professionalism of the conference team, friendliness of staff and students and overall organisation were praised. Manchester also made a strong impression as a vibrant city. Some delegates found it welcoming and easy to navigate. Many appreciated experiencing the university within Manchester’s wider cultural vibrancy.
What I found most heart-warming was the emotional tone in many reflections. Delegates described the conference as inspiring, energising and affirming. For many attendees, especially first-time presenters and early career colleagues, it felt like a space where their work and contributions truly mattered.
What were your personal highlights of the conference and working with Manchester Met's conference team?
One of my biggest highlights was witnessing the connections formed throughout the conference. These included moments when colleagues learn from and supported each other, recognising shared values across different institutions and roles.
We were also privileged to have Professor Jennifer Bloom from Florida Atlantic University delivering an incredibly powerful keynote. Delegates repeatedly described the keynote as transformative and thought-provoking, particularly the focus on ‘The power of questions’. It set the tone beautifully for the rest of the conference.
Seeing students from across the sector presenting alongside staff and contributing with such confidence and insight reflected exactly the partnership-focused culture we hoped to create.
Working with our university’s conference team was a genuinely collaborative experience. They brought professionalism, attention to detail, calmness and care to every stage of the process. Large conferences only succeed because of the people behind the scenes and the team worked tirelessly to ensure delegates felt welcomed and supported throughout. A huge thanks to James Charnock and Saffie Buckley – such a pleasure to work with. The scale and complexity of hosting the UKAT Conference was evident in every detail, from the seamless coordination of spaces and schedules to the careful management of delegates, catering, accessibility and the many moving parts behind the scenes. Their leadership, responsiveness and calm oversight ensured that everything ran smoothly.
What does being an "Mbassador" for Manchester mean to you and what would be your key message to others considering bidding to host events in Manchester?
Being an “Mbassador” for Manchester means representing a city that consistently brings together excellence and humanity in practice. Manchester has a distinctive civic energy and a long history of (re-)invention, where creativity, knowledge and social purpose are lived through its institutions and communities. It is a city that holds the capacity to bring people together across differences, creating spaces that are vibrant, relational, welcoming and grounded in authentic connection.
Hosting the UKAT conference reinforced the reality that place matters, the city, the university and the community collectively shaped the atmosphere delegates experienced. The event positioned both UKAT and Manchester Metropolitan University as spaces where care, belonging, partnership and scholarly rigour can coexist meaningfully and the vibrancy of Manchester city amplified that message.
My message to others considering hosting events in Manchester is that the city offers far more than strong infrastructure and excellent venues. It offers warmth, creativity, collaboration and a genuine sense of community where people leave with a felt sense of connection and purpose.
