Upcoming FST Conferences
The Faculty of Surgical Trainers (FST) Conference is held biennially.
Past FST Conferences
Date
Conference Title
Summary
17 April 2026
Training in Turbulent Times.
Around 50 delegates gathered in Birmingham for a day of practical learning, honest discussion and future-focused debate. The programme addressed some of the most pressing challenges facing surgical trainers today — from workforce pressures and curriculum reform to psychological safety, feedback culture and the role of AI in surgical education. Oral presentations showcased innovation and emerging research in the field, with the prize awarded to Sirat Lodhi for the APRICOT Study, a national analysis of differential attainment in ARCP outcomes.
4-6 June 2025
Triennial and ICOSET Conference 2025: A World of Innovation.
The FST served as Local Organising Committee for the 2025 RCSEd Triennial and ICOSET Conference, which brought together global surgical leaders in Edinburgh for a conference focused on innovation, education and collaboration across surgical and dental specialties.
13 October 2023
Surgical Training - Excising the Barriers.
The 2023 conference addressed the multifarious barriers within surgical training and practice, fostering a culture of inclusivity, understanding and enhanced collaboration across the surgical community. Expert-led discussions, interactive workshops and comprehensive sessions empowered attendees to advocate for positive change within their practices and the wider surgical training environment.
31 May - 1 June 2022
International Conference on Surgical Education and Training (ICOSET) 2022: Making It Better.
ICOSET returned to the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2022, with delegates from across the globe gathering to hear from leading voices in surgical education. Over thirty speakers explored topics including competency, disruption in training and differential attainment, with a clear focus on the future of surgical training.
16 October 2020
Communication, Communication, Communication.
A global online event for all who work in healthcare, with a focus on the role of the surgical team in delivering care.
25 October 2019
In Time & On Time.
More than 60 trainers gathered in Birmingham to discuss important issues and developments in surgical training. The conference highlighted the lack of recognition of the value of a good surgical trainer and the need for greater opportunities to develop and grow in the training role.
21-22 March 2019
International Conference on Surgical Education and Training (ICOSET) 2019: To Treat, To Teach, To Train.
Co-hosted by RCSEd and the Faculty of Surgical Trainers, ICOSET 2019 attracted nearly 300 international delegates and an audience of two million via social media. The programme sought to professionalise trainers and training, with an ambitious line-up of world-renowned speakers and a packed schedule of workshops and parallel sessions.
4 October 2017
Time to Train.
How do we ensure time for training? The 2017 conference explored how trainers can secure training time in their job plans and make the most of it, examining the further professionalisation of the trainer role through initiatives such as the Improving Surgical Training project and competency-based training.
21 October 2016
Training by Numbers.
The conference examined competency-based training in surgery through presentations from leading experts in surgical education, alongside practical workshops covering simulation-based training, effective feedback and getting the most from the ISCP.
22 October 2015
Achieving Excellence in Surgical Training.
Combining personal insights with national and international research, the 2015 conference delivered practical advice on how to improve as a trainer alongside broader reviews of studies and initiatives from the UK and North America.
22 October 2014
Who Makes the Cut.
Held in Edinburgh, the 2014 conference focused on assessment in surgical training, with 'assessment drives learning' emerging as a key message across the programme.
24 October 2013
Playing for Real.
The Faculty's 2013 Annual Meeting brought together world experts on simulation to address how it can be used to enhance both technical and non-technical performance in surgery.