The third

CoP summit

20 - 21 May 2024

Social Learning Lab

Sesimbra, Portugal 

Learning to make a difference

Social learning spaces and agency

"There is nothing else like this on the planet"

"I agree. I keep coming back because there is nothing else like it."

Stay in the know

Welcome to the annual community of practice summit

Hosted by Etienne and Beverly Wenger-Trayner in the beautiful surroundings of the Social Learning Lab,  you will find out what others across sectors are doing and the challenges they are facing. You'll make friends, find learning partners and celebrate the progress we are all making together.

A draft programme

Imagine the difference you want to make - and being with people want to know more, share their stories, and challenge you. Who else is in this space and where are we all going? What could we do together? These kinds of conversations are what you can expect at the summit. Come along with your experience of communities of practice.

Day 1 - 8:30 a.m.

Grounding and catching up

Get to know each other through small and big conversations, booths and displays

Celebrate big and small stories of where communities of practice are creating value in different contexts

Peer into the future: a landscape view of what's happening and what might be coming next

During day 1

Outside with a view

5:00 p.m. close, 7:00 p.m. dinner

Celebrating

Celebratory dinner in the evening. It's included in the price of the summit.

Live music, laughter, and living it up!

Evening of day 1

Dinner at the Lab

Day 2 - 8:30 a.m.

Getting stuff done

Self-organize around key conversations about hot topics, shared challenges, and opportunities

Shared highlights, insights, and wistful thoughts

Share joint and individual next steps and resolutions

Day 2

Outside and with a view

Close - 4:00 p.m.

Moving on

It takes 40 - 60 minutes to get to Lisbon Airport.Take a flight that leaves after 7:00 p.m. or stay on and enjoy this beautiful region.

Or continue the conversations at the following event, the Cutting-edge retreat.

Uber or taxi

€35 - €70

Social learning spaces and agency

Stay in the know – latest developments and future trends. Session led by Etienne and Bev.

What others say

The CoP summit generated precious memories, new friends, great ideas, and a keener sense the landscape of social learning leadership. A personal and professional delight!
Travis Tennessen
Western Washington University
The CoP Summit was an awesome experience to interact with people from different walks of life who are curious and open to learning. The open sharing of thinking and work is refreshing and stimulating for all concerned
Mary Wilson
Bats Inc Director, Leadership & Culture Development CoP facilitator
Participating in the CoP summit is like opening a treasure chest of knowledge, connection, and inspiration.
Amber Stokes
Online participant
Fellowship, fun, fine food, sharing the social learning journey with like-minded practitioners
Jacquie McDonald
University of Southern Queensland, Australia
Online participation

Limited places

Online participation

We have some spaces for online participation, which we aim to make as meaningful and active as in-person participation. The experience is full-time and synchronous; you lead or belong to a "pod" who will be your homies. Think carefully about time-zone differences if you join online.

Get to the venue

40 minutes from Lisbon Airport

Check out the map or our webpage for information about where to stay and how to get here

Advisory council for CoP summit 2024

Darren Cambridge headshot

Darren Cambridge, MD, Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law and Society, U. of Maryland

Social learning fellow

Diane Culver

Diane Culver, Full Professor, School of Human Kinetics, Ottawa, Canada

Social learning fellow

Heidi Madsen, Social Learning Manager, JPMorgan Chase, Ohio, U.S.

Social learning fellow

Travis Tennessen, Director, Center for Community Learning, Western WA Uni, U.S.

Social learning fellow

Drew Pontikis

Drew Pontikis, Communities of practice enabler, Sr. Manager at PwC UK

Jose Manuel Henriques 2

José Manuel Henriques, Researcher at Dinamia’CET (ISCTE-IUL), Portugal

Robin Smith

Robyn Smith, translating evidence into healthcare practice, University of Melbourne, Australia