CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Call for Proposals

  • Call for proposals opens: 15 February, 2026
  • Call for proposals closes: 15 April, 2026
  • Notification of decisions: 15 May, 2026
  • Participation confirmation for inclusion in the programme: 15 June, 2026
  • Pre-conference workshops: 3 November, 2026
  • Main conference: 4-5 November, 2026

We invite educators, researchers, policymakers and industry leaders to submit proposals aligned with the conference theme Adult Learning: Reimagining, Reinventing, Transforming, as we move from tradition to transformation and the articulate of a new vision for adult learning.

Conference Programme Strands

Within the conference theme, three interconnected strands are identified to re-envision adult learning from inputs to impact, each serving as a conceptual anchor for the conference programme.

Strand 1: Reimagining the Foundations of Adult Learning

This strand focuses on the foundations that shape adult learning, including learner identities, motivations, prior experience, social contexts and learning purposes. It foregrounds critical inquiry about conventional understanding of adult learning, including who adult learners are, and the motivations that shape learning at different phases of adult life. Submissions may examine how adult learning foundations are being redefined to support lifelong adaptability, intergenerational exchange and social inclusion, as well as the role of human-centred technologies and AI as learning resources.

Strand 2: Reinventing the Delivery of Adult Teaching and Learning

This strand addresses the delivery of adult learning – how teaching, facilitation and learning environments are designed and enacted. It foregrounds innovative, inclusive, and human-centred approaches that respond to adult learners’ cognitive, social, and technological realities across different ages and abilities. Submissions may explore how learning delivery can better align education and industry, support diverse learners, and respond to cognitive, socio-emotional and sociocultural dimensions of learning.

Strand 3: Transforming the Outputs and Impact of Adult learning

This strand examines how adult learning can generate meaningful and sustainable impact for individuals, organisations and society. It invites proposals that explore learning outcomes such as employability, career mobility, personal agency, identity development, and social or community impact, as well as broader ecosystem-level transformation. Submissions may address how learning outputs are defined, measured and valued across different contexts, including education-industry partnerships and intergenerational learning environments.

Presenting at AnfI 2026

We invite presentations in the following formats:
  1. Paper presentations (12-minute presentation with 3-minute Q&A for each presenter) provide presenters with an opportunity to share knowledge and facilitate dialogue with session participants. The presentations will be grouped into each themed session.
    Submission Guide: 300-350 words
  2. Poster presentations (60 minutes) are a highly engaging opportunity to share both finished and preliminary work through one-on-one interactions and small-group discussions with participants. All posters will be presented in a standard academic poster format. Presenters are responsible for printing the poster.
    Submission Guide: 200-250 words
  3. Roundtable presentations (20-minute presentation including interactive activities and Q&A for each presenter) offer a focused, in-depth exploration of a significant issue of importance to adult learning community and designed to engage participants via interactive activities and Q&A. Proposals may be submitted by self-organised groups of minimum of THREE presenters, or by individuals interested in participating in organiser-curated roundtables aligned with the conference themes.
    Submission Guide: 300-350 words for group submission; 150-200 words for individual submission
  4. Talking circles presentations (3-minute talk for each presenter; 40-minute group discussion) provide a rich forum for participants to engage in thoughtful discussion on the evolving adult learning landscape, aligned with the conference theme. Proposals may be submitted by self-organised groups of SIX presenters, or by individuals interested in participating in organiser-curated talking circles aligned with the conference themes. Presenters should focus on ONE key question and presentation is restricted to 3 minutes each.
    Submission Guide: 300-350 words for group submission; 150-200 words for individual submission

Content for all presentations can come from:

  • Research (theoretical, conceptual or empirical)
  • Review or integrative (including horizon-scanning and policy-review papers)
  • Research-in-progress (early results, reports of pilot projects)
  • Best practice (administrative and practice development, experiments, innovations)
  • Emerging practice (innovative ideas and current or emerging developments that can help shape the future of adult learning)

Submitting Your Proposal

Submission will only be accepted through this link. All submissions must include:

  • Name, affiliation and contact information of submitter and fellow co-authors and presenters
  • The geographical region you are from
  • Indication of the conference strand to which the proposal aligns
  • Indication of the presentation format
  • Title of your proposal
  • 3 to 5 keywords
  • An abstract explaining your work:
    • Paper presentation: 300-350 words
    • Poster presentation: 200-250 words
    • Roundtable presentation: 300-350 words (group); 150-200 words (individual)
    • Talking circle presentation: 300-350 words (group); 150-200 words (individual)
  • For Roundtable and Talking Circle presentations, outline how you plan to actively engage participants in discussion and interaction

 Authors should:

  • Write the abstracts in English language only
  • Specify all abbreviations in full at the first mention, followed by abbreviation in parentheses, thereafter abbreviation only should be used

 Important Notes:

  • The submitting author will be considered the principal point of contact for all communication regarding the proposal including acceptance notification.
  • To ensure broad participation, each individual may serve as first author on no more than TWO submissions and may present no more than TWO times in the conference. There is no limit on individuals being co-authors of the submissions.