TLI 2026 Keynote & Program

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Robert Fleisig

May 21, 2026 | 9:25 AM – 10:55 AM 

Beyond Individual Achievement: Conditions for Meaningful Learning 

Higher education often treats learning as an individual accomplishment: acquiring knowledge, demonstrating competence, and achieving personal success. Yet some of the most meaningful learning happens in relationship with others and in response to purposes beyond the self. 

Meaningful learning depends not only on content or instruction, but on the conditions in which learning takes place. These conditions include relationships among learners, instructors, and community members; empathy and a willingness to learn from community; attention to shared purpose; and humility in the face of uncertainty, multiple ways of knowing, and complex problems. 

This keynote address will examine how these conditions shape learning across learner-community, learner-instructor, and instructor-community relationships. It will explore empathy as a stance for both learners and educators, consider the multiple roles instructors may take on, and address the need for adaptability when learning unfolds in unpredictable and contested contexts. 

Participants are invited to reflect on the conditions they create in their own settings and to consider practical ways of strengthening environments in which learners and educators can thrive. 

Dr. Robert Fleisig is a Professor at McMaster University and an educational leader, teaching and learning scholar, professional engineer, and designer. He is the Program Lead for the Master of Engineering Design, where he integrates STEM thinking with human-centred, relational mindsets in technology, health, and education to create meaningful learning experiences for students and community partners.  

His work foregrounds empathy, reflection, and partnership, including sustained engagement with students as partners in teaching and learning. Dr. Fleisig is the recipient of an Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations Teaching Award and a Fellow of the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA). He currently serves on the editorial boards of the International Journal for Students as Partners and the CEEA Conference Proceedings. 

If you have any questions about the conference, please e-mail OTL at otl@uoguelph.ca. 

Note: The keynote will be recorded and shared with conference attendees.