This piece was co-created with the support of an AI language model, used as a reflective lens to help explore and articulate the deeper meanings emerging from our Action Learning Set. This approach enabled us to quickly transform a detailed session transcript into meaningful summaries, narratives, and action plans—freeing up more time for creative thinking and strategic planning. The use of AI paralleled the spirit of Action Learning itself: collaborative, exploratory, and grounded in shared learning.

On May 21, 2025, members of the SIME community came together for a transformative Action Learning Set that has already begun to shape our path forward. What unfolded was not just a meeting—it was a reaffirmation of the values that underpin the Centre for Scholarship and Innovation in Management Education: curiosity, collaboration, integrity, and impact. At helm on the day was our supporter and external member, Miles Peacock, owner of Enthios Training – Our passion is the pursuit of individual performance. On his own journey towards action learning expertise, Miles learnt with us and created a much-needed space for thinking and togetherness.

Creating a Space for Authentic Learning

Our morning began with a grounding principle: statements may only be made in response to questions. This seemingly simple rule reframed our dialogue, encouraging deep listening and a spirit of inquiry over solution-driven responses. Participants also set personal leadership intentions—practising curiosity, active listening, vulnerability, and consensus building. This intentional framing fostered a shared learning culture rooted in trust and openness.

Central to our dialogue was a courageous reflection on a key challenge: the waning momentum around engagement with the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). This concern, raised with both heart and insight, catalysed a rich exploration of institutional pressures, lack of recognition, and the invisible labour often embedded in sustaining such communities.

SIME’s Emerging Identity: Collaborative, Agile, and Purpose-Driven

As the afternoon session unfolded, the tone shifted from reflection to action. The group coalesced around a vision to co-create a “Minimum Viable Product” for SIME—one that emphasises community-led, peer-based development over compliance-based training. Central to this vision is the reimagining of peer observation: not as a form of judgment, but as a practice of mutual learning and exploration. Concepts like observers “acting as students” or engaging in co-teaching sparked enthusiasm for a low-risk, high-trust model that could be piloted with immediacy.

Making the Invisible Visible

One recurring theme was the invisibility of the extraordinary work already happening within the SIME network. In response, the group proposed a series of storytelling initiatives—from podcasts to QR-code-enabled posters—to celebrate and elevate the lived experiences of our colleagues. These stories are not just communications strategies; they are tools of cultural change, making the value of scholarly innovation more visible to peers, leaders, and future collaborators.

Building Institutional Bridges

As we mapped the terrain ahead, several strategies emerged: launching a pilot peer observation scheme, aligning efforts with TEFF frameworks, leveraging cross-faculty connections, and showcasing our work at university-wide events such as the Lancaster Education Conference. These are not top-down mandates, but bottom-up commitments grounded in lived experience and shared values.

SIME as a Living Community

Perhaps the most remarkable outcome of the day was the affirmation of what SIME truly is—a living community built on relational trust, shared purpose, and intellectual generosity. Across disciplinary boundaries and institutional roles, participants demonstrated a rare blend of honesty and ambition, reminding us that meaningful change begins with honest dialogue and thoughtful action.

As we move forward, we are not simply asking how to sustain SIME. We are asking how to make it thrive—with clarity, care, and courage.

Let’s keep asking better questions—and trust that the answers, and the impact, will follow.

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