SAI Summer Seminar 2024 – Call for Abstracts
The main theme of the 2024 Student Affairs Ireland (SAI) Summer Seminar is ‘Creating, Engaging and Enhancing Community for Student Success’. The SAI Summer Seminar will take place in the Technological University of the Shannon, Moylish Campus, Limerick on Tuesday 18th June 2024.
We invite practitioners, researchers, faculty and students to submit an abstract for the following proposal types: oral presentation / poster presentation / experiential activity. Deadline for submission – 30th April 2024 @ 1pm
Acceptance notification – 10th May 2024
In the HEA report Understanding and Enabling Student Success in Irish Higher Education (O’Farrell, 2019) the understanding of student success is characterised as supporting ‘the learning and development opportunities for each student’ helping them ‘to recognise and fulfil their potential to contribute to, and flourish in, society’. Interestingly in the same report O’Farrell argues that for student success to be achieved, it ‘requires a culture in Irish higher education that values inclusivity, equity and meaningful engagement between students, staff, their institutions and the wider community’.
Student Affairs professionals have always been flexible, dynamic, responsive to change and above all student-centred. At the core of their role, they have been motivated by a desire to support the student experience and create the conditions where students can thrive and succeed. Their commitment to students, innovation in responding to student need and their contribution to creating and enhancing community contributes significantly to the learning experience and ultimate success of students in our Higher Education Institutes.
Our Summer Seminar brings together professionals to share research, experience, thinking and practice, providing an opportunity to gather and share ways in which we are creating community within and outside of our HEIs in ways that support student success.
Abstracts can be submitted under the following subthemes:
- Enhancing belonging, inclusivity and equity in our HE communities
- Supporting student engagement
- Collaboration, mentorship and peer support
- Examining the role and effectiveness of technology in student success
- Student partnership, leadership and engagement
- Innovation in mental health and wellbeing support for students
- Linking the UN Sustainable Development Goals in supporting student success
Abstract proposal requirements: Max. 350 words excluding references. Include max. 2 references.
Presentation Types:
- Oral presentations (15-20 minutes): The oral presentation may be delivered by an individual or by a group. The abstract should be in line with the Seminar’s theme/subthemes. Guidelines for preparing the abstract are included below.
- Poster presentations: The poster presentation may be created by an individual or by a group and is to be displayed during the Seminar. At times, the author(s) of the poster will accompany the poster so that they can address any questions that attendees have. The abstract submitted should be in line with the Seminar’s theme/subthemes. Guidelines for preparing the abstract are included below.
- Experiential activity (60-90 minutes). These activities can include workshops / combined presentations with colleagues and must be relevant to the Seminar theme/subthemes. The activity will last 60-90 minutes. These activities are intended to be interactive with considerable participation and discussion from attendees. The abstract should include a description of the content, how it will be delivered and the expected learning outcomes.
*NB: The main author listed on a presentation must be registered to attend the Seminar.
Guidelines for all types of presentation proposal:
If your abstract is for a presentation based on one or more empirical research projects, it could include the following:
- Background and purpose: description of the problem, study objectives, research question(s) and/or hypotheses;
- Methods: study design, including a description of participants and selection strategies, data collection procedures, measures and approaches to analysis;
- Findings: specific results in summary form;
- Conclusions and implications: description of the main outcome(s) of the study and implications for practice, policy or further research.
If your abstract is for a presentation which is not based on primary empirical research, it could include the following:
- Background and purpose of the presentation;
- A summary of the main points of the presentation;
- How the presentation will address one or more of the seminar’s theme and subthemes;
- Conclusions from and implications of your presentation for practice, policy or further research.
Review Process:
Abstract proposals will be evaluated through a blind peer review. The review will look at the clarity of the content, quality and rigour, and the relationship to the Seminar theme/ subthemes.
For additional information please contact:
Daniel Caldwell:
Email: daniel.caldwell@atu.ie