AUDE Summer School 2026 Cohort
The 2026 AUDE Summer School took place on 22 - 25 June at the University of Bristol.
This residential programme nurtures emerging talent in higher education estates and facilities management. Delegates hear from current estates directors and sector experts on key topical areas of estates and facilities management.
Delegates heard from current estates directors and sector experts on key topical areas of estates and facilities management. This residential provides a network of peers to strike up a working relationship with, which for many will be sustained into the future.
Delegates were assigned to groups on the first day of the residential and remained in their groups for the duration of the summer school residential programme.
Group presentations will take place on Wednesday 26 November 2025 and the winning group will be announced shortly after this.
The Group Project works consists of:
Group Project – four territories to explore
1. Best Practice - Who are the exemplars within Higher Education, and beyond, and how have you engaged with them?
2. Institutional Application - What have you introduced or applied to your HEIs and what has been the impact so far?
3. Personal Learning - What have you learned from being part of this experience and what are you doing with these insights?
4. AUDE Recommendations - Based on your Group’s work, what are your recommendations and suggested actions for AUDE and senior estate leadership teams across the associations membership.
This year AUDE are giving the groups a choice from two projects which are detailed below:
PROJECT ONE
This project aims to investigate the current challenges associated with compliance, safety, and regulation within the built environment across higher education institutions. The focus will be on understanding the impact of recent legislative changes, the increasing demands for documentation and assurance, and the practical implications for accountable persons and organisations.
PROJECT TWO
This project examines the main challenges and priorities facing Estates and Facilities teams in Higher Education Institutions as they shift from cost centres to strategic enablers. It considers how these functions should prepare for the coming decade, addressing long-term issues like net zero goals, digital estates, and evolving teaching models. The goal is to help Estates and Facilities Management align with institutional objectives, influence leadership, and achieve measurable improvements in productivity, wellbeing, and reputation.
Please see below the session slides from the AUDE Summer School 2026.
You will need to sign into your AUDE account to view the session slides. If you do not have an AUDE account then click here to register.
Session slides:
