The conference covers research on post-secondary education in all its forms — universities, colleges, vocational and professional providers and online institutions — and welcomes contributions from education studies, the social sciences, management, the humanities, the sciences and professional fields. Work may be empirical, theoretical, methodological or practice-based, and may concern a single course, an institution, a national system or an international comparison. Use the ten theme groups below to check whether your research fits; relevance is confirmed through peer review.
The conference welcomes submissions across the full breadth of higher education. The topics below are indicative rather than restrictive, and closely related research is also welcome.
Teaching, Learning and Curriculum
15 topics−
Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
Innovative Teaching Practices
Evidence-Based Pedagogy
Curriculum Design and Reform
Student-Centred Learning
Active and Experiential Learning
Collaborative and Problem-Based Learning
Competency-Based Education
Assessment and Evaluation
Authentic and Alternative Assessment
Feedback and Learning Outcomes
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Education
Flexible and Blended Learning
Academic Mentoring and Tutoring
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation
22 topics+
Generative AI in Higher Education
AI-Enhanced Teaching and Learning
AI-Enabled Assessment and Feedback
AI-Enabled Personalized Learning
AI Literacy and Capability Development
AI Governance and Institutional Strategy
Responsible AI, Ethics and Fairness
AI, Academic Integrity and Authorship
AI for Student Success and Advising
AI in Research and Scholarly Practice
AI, Privacy and Data Governance
AI Agents in Higher Education
Human-AI Collaboration in Learning
AI and Future Graduate Skills
AI Infrastructure and Institutional Readiness
Digital Transformation in Higher Education
Emerging Learning Technologies
Learning Analytics
Online, Hybrid and Flexible Learning
Virtual and Immersive Learning
Digital Inclusion and Accessibility
Open Educational Resources
Students, Access and Academic Success
16 topics+
Access and Widening Participation
Equity in Higher Education
Student Success, Progression and Retention
Student Engagement and Participation
Student Experience and Learning Environments
Student Wellbeing and Mental Health
Student Belonging and Campus Inclusion
Student Support and Academic Advising
Disability Inclusion and Accessibility
First-Generation Students
Underrepresented Student Groups
Admissions and Student Transitions
Student Affordability and Financial Support
Gender Equity in Higher Education
Diversity and Multicultural Higher Education
Student Voice and Partnership
Internationalization and Global Higher Education
17 topics+
Internationalization of Higher Education
Globalization and Higher Education
International Student Mobility
Academic Staff Mobility
International Student Experience and Integration
Intercultural Learning
Global Competence
International Student Recruitment and Admissions
Credit Transfer and Recognition
Recognition of International Qualifications
Joint and Dual Degree Programs
Transnational Higher Education
International Research Collaboration
International Academic Partnerships and Networks
Language Policy and Multilingualism
Comparative Higher Education
Financing International Mobility and Exchange
Governance, Leadership and Institutional Management
16 topics+
Higher Education Governance
Leadership and Management
Strategic Planning and Institutional Development
Institutional Autonomy and Accountability
Academic Leadership
Organizational Change and Innovation
Change Management
Institutional Culture
University Decision-Making
Academic Freedom
Ethics and Institutional Integrity
Institutional Resilience and Crisis Management
Risk Management in Higher Education
Evidence-Informed Decision-Making
Digital Leadership
Higher Education Regulation
Quality, Policy and Higher Education Systems
16 topics+
Quality Assurance and Accreditation
Quality Enhancement
Institutional Evaluation
Program Evaluation
Learning Outcomes and Academic Standards
University Rankings and Metrics
Institutional Performance
Benchmarking in Higher Education
Higher Education Policy
Higher Education Reform
Comparative Higher Education Systems
Public and Private Higher Education
Higher Education Financing
Economics of Higher Education
Institutional Differentiation
Policy Implementation and Regulatory Frameworks
Research, Innovation and Academic Careers
19 topics+
Higher Education Research
Research Policy and Management
Research-Led Education
Research and Innovation
Educational Research Methods
Open Science and Open Scholarship
Research Integrity
Responsible Research and Innovation
Doctoral Education
Research Training
Early-Career Researchers
Academic Careers
Academic Professional Development
Faculty Development
Academic Work and Working Conditions
Interdisciplinary Research
Research Partnerships
Knowledge Transfer
Research Impact
Employability, Skills and Lifelong Learning
19 topics+
Graduate Employability
Career Readiness
Future Skills
Higher Education and the Future of Work
Work-Integrated Learning
Workplace Learning
Internships and Placements
Career Guidance and Development
Entrepreneurship Education
University-Industry Collaboration
Lifelong Learning
Continuing Education
Microcredentials
Alternative Credentials
Upskilling and Reskilling
Flexible Learning Pathways
Recognition of Prior Learning
Professional and Executive Education
Skills and Labour-Market Needs
Universities, Society and Sustainable Development
18 topics+
Higher Education and Society
Universities and Public Trust
University-Community Engagement
Community-Engaged Learning
Higher Education and Social Responsibility
Sustainability in Higher Education
Education for Sustainability
Universities and the Sustainable Development Goals
Climate Change and Higher Education
Sustainable Campus Development
Universities and Regional Development
Higher Education and Social Mobility
Social Innovation
University-Government Partnerships
Universities and Civil Society
Higher Education in Crisis and Conflict
Demographic Change and Higher Education
Public Value and Social Impact of Higher Education
Higher Education Futures and System Transformation
16 topics+
Higher Education Futures
New Models of Universities
Future Campus and Learning Environments
Institutional Innovation
Flexible Degree Structures
Modular and Stackable Learning
Alternative Higher Education Models
Cross-Sector Education Ecosystems
Institutional Alliances and Collaboration
Data-Informed Institutional Strategy
Institutional Foresight and Scenario Planning
Changing Student Demographics
Higher Education and Migration
Global Challenges and Higher Education
Innovation in Higher Education Policy and Practice
Emerging Issues in Higher Education
Submissions addressing other relevant aspects of higher education are also welcome.
Research on Related Topics
If your work addresses higher education but does not match a listed topic exactly, you are still welcome to submit; relevance is assessed through the normal review process, and inclusion of a topic here does not guarantee acceptance.
For genuine questions about scope, contact us before submitting.
Choose the Next Step
If your research fits one of the theme groups above, submit your abstract for peer review, read the Author Guidelines or see how you can present. No paper? You can also register as a Listener.
