CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
BELMAS ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2020

“Educational Leadership for a More Sustainable Future”

Friday 3rd July - Sunday 5th July 2020
De Vere Horwood Estate, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

Visit our website here: https://www.belmasannualconference.org.uk/

Start the abstract submissions process here: https://belmas2020.exordo.com/

Abstract submissions are invited for BELMAS Annual Conference 2020. Contributions may address any aspect of Educational Leadership, Management or Administration although preference may be given by reviewers to abstracts directly addressing the conference theme.

Presentation Formats and Submission Criteria

All papers are subjected to anonymous peer review and are selected solely on merit. Submissions must be made online using our abstract submission system by 12th January 2020. Abstracts after this deadline will not be included in the programme. Abstracts should fall into one of the categories below:

Addresses completed research with outcomes
Addresses project where there is already completed data set to discuss
Offers critical discourse analysis in educational research and/or provides a critical review of issues
Advances understanding of practice within the context of education policy and sustainability.

Reviewers will take this into account when assessing the suitability of papers for inclusion in the conference programme. We are particularly interested in papers related to the conference theme but are also interested in other papers.

All abstracts will be assessed against the following criteria:

Relevance of the topic to BELMAS members
Clarity of research question(s) and/or focus of enquiry/discussions
Robustness of analytical and/or theoretical framework
Significance for educational practice, policy and/or theory


Presentation Formats

All abstracts must be a maximum of 500 words and exclude tables or diagrams. Names and institutions/organisations of all authors must be excluded from the text of the abstracts to facilitate the blind peer review process but provided separately as directed in the online system.

Theatre Style

Authors present abbreviated versions of their papers, followed by audience discussion. The format generally allows for sessions to include three or four papers with approximately 5 minutes for the chair’s introduction, 20 minutes per author presentation and 15 minutes discussion. Session chairs may adjust the timings based on the number of presentations scheduled for the session. In the case of multi-authored papers, more than one person may present, but multiple presenters are urged to be attentive to the total time available to them.

Roundtables

Timing: 45-60 minutes per roundtable

The purpose of roundtable sessions is to allow maximum interaction among the presenter(s) and audience. Roundtable presenter(s) should therefore see themselves as facilitators of wider discussion and be prepared to introduce themselves and their research by a short presentation (maximum five PowerPoint slides) which is designed to engage interest and stimulate reflective audience participation. This format lends itself to any research topic; but we see it as being particularly appealing to those who value peer discussion as a means of validating their research analysis, as a means of stimulating further research, or as a ‘safe haven’ within which controversial topics may be explored. Roundtable sessions will not be chaired as the presenter(s) role as facilitator subsumes the role of Chair.

Workshop

Timing: 45-60 minutes per workshop

The purpose of a workshop session is to actively engage members of the audience. Presentations are brief, allowing adequate time for interaction and discussion. It differs from a roundtable in that the presenter(s) should aim to structure the session such that participants take part in guided activities. As is the case with roundtables this may stimulate wider discussion, but presenters choosing this format will need to outline the nature of the planned activity/activities which will prompt the discussion. This format offers presenter(s) the opportunity to work with their peers to explore a common problem, project or shared interest and has in the past led to new insights prompted by the activities undertaken during the session. Again these sessions will not be chaired as the presenter(s) role is to guide the activities and ensuing discussion.

Symposia

Proposals for a symposium may also be submitted through the online system. Each symposium abstract, approved by the Lead Organiser, should be submitted individually. Full instructions are available on the system.

Submission of Abstracts

Abstracts are submitted online and the data entered will be used in the published programme. It is essential that great care is taken in the details of your submission. In particular, authors are asked to ensure that the following are recorded correctly:

Title of Paper
Names of all authors and institutions/organisations
Name(s) of the person(s) who will be presenting at the conference

Full instructions for submitting your abstract are provided in the online system. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 12th January 2020. The decision on acceptances will be communicated to authors in March 2020.

To submit your abstract, please use the link below. You will be required to create an account before gaining access to the abstract submission system.

Start the abstract submissions process here: https://belmas2020.exordo.com/