Author Guidelines

Conference participation formats

Presentation Formats

Choose the format that best fits your contribution. All sessions must be delivered with respect for time, clarity, and inclusive participation.

1. Oral Presentations (15–20 minutes + Q&A)

Oral presentations are designed for individual research papers or conceptual contributions that can be effectively communicated within a standard conference talk format. Presenters are expected to summarize their study’s aims, methodology, findings, and implications in a clear and engaging manner.

A short Q&A segment will follow each presentation, allowing participants to discuss results, clarify methods, and explore future research directions. Slides (PowerPoint or PDF) are recommended to support delivery and enhance audience understanding.

Duration: 15–20 min Includes: Q&A Slides: recommended

2. Symposia (3–4 related papers with a chair-led discussion)

Symposia bring together a group of 3–4 scholars who present papers addressing a common theme, theoretical framework, or policy issue. Each symposium must designate a chair, who oversees the structure, introduces speakers, manages time, and facilitates an integrated discussion.

Symposia should offer cross-paper dialogue, highlight complementarities and contrasts among the studies, and stimulate debate on broader implications for practice, policy, or theory. A collective abstract is required, outlining overall thematic coherence.

Papers: 3–4 Chair: required Collective abstract: required

3. Workshops (60–90 minutes, interactive skill/practice sessions)

Workshops are highly participatory sessions focused on practical skills, hands-on activities, and guided experiential learning. They may include demonstrations, role-plays, simulations, small-group exercises, or applied problem-solving tasks.

Workshop facilitators should demonstrate expertise in the selected topic and propose clear learning outcomes for participants. These sessions are ideal for training professionals, practitioners, or students in specific methods, tools, or intervention models.

Duration: 60–90 min Interactive: yes Learning outcomes: required

4. Poster Presentations (visual presentations with informal dialogue)

Poster presentations allow researchers to visually showcase their work through well-designed posters that summarize the study’s objectives, methods, results, and key messages. Presenters stand by their poster during the designated session to engage in informal dialogue with attendees, answer questions, and receive feedback.

This format encourages one-to-one interaction, networking, and detailed discussion of ongoing or completed research projects.

Visual format Informal dialogue Networking-friendly

5. Roundtables & Youth Dialogues (open discussions with practitioners and students)

Roundtables create an open conversational space for practitioners, academics, policymakers, and youth participants to exchange ideas on emerging issues, practical challenges, or innovative solutions. Unlike formal presentations, roundtables emphasize dialogue rather than structured slides or research findings.

Youth Dialogues specifically center the voices, perspectives, and lived experiences of young people, encouraging intergenerational exchange and collaborative insight-building.

Dialogue-first Practitioners + students Youth voices centered

6. Flash Talks / Digital Presentations (5–7 minutes, live or pre-recorded)

Flash Talks are concise, fast-paced presentations intended to communicate a single key idea, innovation, or preliminary research result in a short timeframe. Presenters must distill their message to essential points, using minimal slides and a focused narrative.

Digital Presentations (live or pre-recorded video) accommodate participants joining virtually or sharing multimedia content. This format is ideal for pilot studies, methodological innovations, or thought-provoking insights that benefit from brevity.

Duration: 5–7 min Live or pre-recorded Minimal slides

Submission guidelines

Abstract Format

Abstracts must be prepared in accordance with the following specifications in order to be considered for review and inclusion in the Conference Proceedings.

Technical Requirements

Length: 150–200 words Language: English Font: Times New Roman Size: 12 pt Spacing: Single File: .doc / .docx Placement: After title & authors

Abstracts must be submitted as Microsoft Word documents and placed immediately after the title and author information in the manuscript.

Required Content Components

The abstract must clearly and concisely address all of the following elements:

Purpose / Aim of the Study – statement of the research problem or objective.
Theoretical or Conceptual Framework – key theory or model guiding the study (if applicable).
Methodology – research design, participants/data sources, and analytical approach.
Key Findings or Expected Contributions – main results, insights, or arguments.
Implications / Relevance – contribution to knowledge, policy, practice, or conference themes.
Keywords – 4–6 keywords reflecting the core themes of the paper.

Submission guidelines

Full Paper Format

Full papers must comply with the following formatting and structural requirements in order to be considered for peer review and publication in the Conference Proceedings.

1. General Requirements

Length: 5,000–6,000 words File: .doc / .docx Font: Times New Roman Size: 12 pt Spacing: 1.5 lines Margins: 2.5 cm Referencing: APA 7 Language: Inclusive English

Tables and figures must be numbered, captioned, and embedded within the main text immediately after their first reference, not placed at the end of the manuscript.

2. Full Paper Structure

Manuscripts must be organised in the following order:

Title – clear and specific, accurately reflecting the paper’s content.
Author(s) – full names, institutional affiliations, and corresponding author’s email.
Abstract (150–200 words) – placed immediately after the title and author information and including purpose/aim, theoretical framework, methodology, key findings or contributions, implications/relevance, and 4–6 keywords.

3. Main Text

The body of the paper must include the following sections:

3.1 Introduction

Background and context
Research problem and objectives
Significance of the study
Theoretical relevance or policy/practice importance

3.2 Methodology

Research design and approach
Participants or data sources
Data collection methods
Analytical procedures
Ethical considerations

3.3 Findings / Discussion

Clear presentation of results
Interpretation and critical discussion
Links to theory, literature, practice, or policy
Implications for research, practice, or social policy

3.4 Conclusion

Summary of main findings
Contributions to knowledge or practice
Limitations
Recommendations for future research or applications

4. References, Tables, Figures & Formatting Notes

References

Follow APA 7th edition strictly
Include only sources cited in the text
Ensure accuracy and completeness of all references

Tables and Figures

Number consecutively (e.g., Table 1, Figure 1)
Provide clear, descriptive captions
Insert immediately after first mention in the text
Ensure APA-compliant formatting and readability

Formatting Notes

Avoid footnotes except when absolutely necessary
Use headings and subheadings consistently
Use inclusive, non-discriminatory language
Thoroughly proofread the manuscript before submission

Publication & presentation guidelines

Publication & Poster Presentation Format

Accepted contributions will be published and presented in accordance with the following publication and poster presentation requirements.

Publication

Accepted papers will be published in the Open-Access Conference Proceedings (ISBN) and distributed digitally through the conference website and partner platforms, in collaboration with the Journal of Social Work and Social Policies.

Open Access ISBN Proceedings Digital distribution Journal collaboration

1. Poster Size and Orientation

Standard size: A1 (59.4 × 84.1 cm) or A0 (84.1 × 118.9 cm), depending on conference provision
Orientation: Preferably portrait, unless otherwise specified

2. Layout Requirements

Posters should be visually clear, well-organised, and readable from a distance of 1–2 meters. The following structure is recommended:

Title – large, bold font (minimum 72 pt), matching the conference abstract title.
Author(s) and Affiliation(s) – institutions and contact email of the presenting author.
Introduction / Background – brief context and rationale (2–3 short paragraphs or bullet points).
Aim / Research Questions – concise and clearly stated objective.
Methodology – short, visual summary of design, participants, tools, and analysis.
Findings / Results – graphs, tables, charts, or diagrams highlighting key results.
Discussion / Implications – interpretation and links to practice, policy, or theory.
Conclusion – 2–3 key messages or takeaways.
Keywords (optional) – 4–6 relevant terms.
Acknowledgments (optional) – funding, institutional support, partnerships.

3. Design and Formatting Guidelines

Font sizes

Title: 72 pt or larger
Headings: 36–48 pt
Body text: 24–32 pt

Typography

Use clean, professional fonts (e.g., Arial, Calibri, Helvetica)
Avoid dense paragraphs; prioritise bullet points and visual elements

Colour scheme

Use high-contrast colours
Ensure accessibility for colour-blind viewers
Keep the background clean; avoid heavy textures

Graphics

Use high-resolution images only
Ensure charts and tables are easily readable
Maintain visual balance; avoid overcrowding