Abstract Tips and Guidelines
Is this your first time submitting to the Inter-Regional Research Symposium or are you unsure where to start? The following advice and guidelines will help you craft a strong proposal.
Think of the audience
The Inter-Regional Research Symposium brings together partners in higher education and sustainable development from around the world as well as policymakers, national authorities responsible for higher education in addition to researchers, practitioners and change makers. Before conceptualising your proposal, think about the audience and what they will take away from your session. For further insights, find out more about who attends the Symposium.
Applicable, Innovative and Insightful
The selection of proposals is on an inter-regional basis. Proposals that stand out will present new ideas and knowledge or showcase good practices, lessons learned and solution-based approaches with practical examples. Such proposals may also include data from evidence-based research to present insights and recommended courses of action.
Write a Strong Abstract
When submitting your proposal, try to provide background information, including the main issue or challenge to be addressed or the process or methodology employed. Remember to be concise. Abstracts should be approximately 300-400 words, formatted in Microsoft Word in size 10 Arial font so make sure to get to the point and explain what your session will focus on. Also, use keywords relevant to your topic.
Ensure your Title Reflects your Session
Your Abstract Title will be published and made available to all through the Symposium guide. Attendees may choose to attend your session based on the title of your abstract. It is important that participants are not misled and that your title accurately reflects your presentation.
Articulate what the Audience will get out of your Session
It is recommended to clearly state what your session will address and what the audience will take away from it. This is especially relevant if the audience will walk away with practical or actionable steps that they can apply or investigate in their contexts or if they will learn innovative strategies or approaches to common challenges. This information is used to determine whether sessions have a practical application.
Prepare in Advance
Do not wait until the deadline to begin your proposal. The online form requires that you provide the title and keywords of your abstract and you will be required to upload your proposal. You will need to time review these details before submission. It is recommended to draft your abstract offline, review and then add this content to the online submissions form.
Check Grammar and Spelling
Please ensure that you check for any unintended errors or mistakes in your submissions. Spelling mistakes or poor grammar do not constitute rejection of a proposal, but they may influence consideration.
