Call for abstracts
Submissions are now closed.
The Conference Program Committee is inviting early submission of:
- Full refereed papers
- Abstracts for showcase presentations;
- Abstracts for roundtable discussions; and
- Abstracts for poster or poster with Pecha Kucha submissions.
Interested researchers, academics, practitioners and industry partners are invited to submit papers, abstracts and posters for the conference. You may submit more than one full-refereed paper or abstract for showcase presentations, roundtable discussions and posters. You may only be the lead on ONE full-refereed paper or abstract for showcase presentations, roundtable discussions and posters. Papers that involve joint authorship with students, industry and community partners are encouraged. Early career researchers and research students are also encouraged to contribute papers.
With a rolling review and acceptance, early submissions are highly recommended. The Program Committee invites submissions across the following four categories:

Papers ►

Showcases ►

Roundtables ►

Posters ►
Rolling submission deadlines
Submission dates
Submissions open: Monday 26 July 2021
Submissions close: Friday 5 August 2022 (midnight, EST Australia)
Notification of acceptance
Authors notified by rolling review: 29 July 2022
Conference registration deadlines
Author registration deadline: 31 August 2022
Submission revisions
Revised Full Paper Submission deadline: 17 August 2022
Revised Abstract Submission deadline: 17 August 2022
Style guides
Submissions which do not follow these guidelines will be returned to authors.
ACEN style guide for abstracts.
Questions
For questions about abstract content and details contact the conference program committee:
Leoni Russell at leoni.russell@rmit.edu.au
Wayne Read at Wayne.Read@deakin.edu.au
Submission issues
Having issues with the submission process? Contact Julie at acen@watermarkevents.com.au or 0402 189 948
1. FULL REFEREED PAPERS
Key dates
- Submissions open for full refereed papers: Monday 26 July 2021
- Submission deadline: Friday 5 August 2022 (midnight, EST Australia)
Submission and structure
Full refereed papers may be either empirical studies or theoretical reviews. Papers should provide detailed description of appropriate literature, methodologies, and analytical methods, demonstrating a thorough and rigorous analysis of current issues in work-integrated learning, leading to well-argued conclusions.
A suggested structure for full refereed papers is:
- Title;
- Author(s);
- Affiliation;
- Keywords (4 -6);
- Abstract;
- Background (including reference to appropriate literature);
- Research aims and intent;
- Methods/approach;
- Results/discussion;
- Conclusions/Implications;
- References, using APA 7th Edition.
Refer to ACEN style guide for papers. Submissions which do not follow these guidelines will be returned to authors.
Word limit: no more than 2,000 words (excluding abstract and references) in length.
Review
Full refereed papers will be blind peer reviewed by reviewers selected by the Conference Program Committee. Peer review is a reciprocal process, therefore submission of a paper means that you may be requested to review other submissions. The program committee will support reviewers through this process with resources and other assistance as needed. Full paper submissions will be reviewed against the extent to which they meet the following criteria:
- alignment with a conference sub-theme
- originality of the research
- quality / rigour (e.g. research method and/or literature review)
- contribution to the scholarship of co-operative education and WIL
- academic standard of writing and presentation
Presentation
Full papers will be allocated 20 minutes presentation time, which will include 10 minutes for questions and discussion.
Publication
All papers accepted in this category will be published in the Conference Proceedings that will be made available to all conference participants and online through the ACEN website. Papers in this category meet the criteria for E1 category publication in ERA.
Best paper
All papers accepted for the conference program will be eligible for consideration for an award of ‘best conference paper’.
2. SHOWCASE PRESENTATIONS
Key dates
- Submissions for abstracts for showcase presentations open: Monday 26 July 2021
- Rolling review and acceptance
- Submission deadline: Friday 5 August 2022 (midnight, EST Australia)
Purpose
Showcase presentations provide an opportunity for delegates to share aspects of good practice, emerging research projects, and topical issues that are being developed. Submissions should outline the initiative, practice or issue being showcased and its relevance to one of the conference sub-themes.
Abstract submission
Proposals for Showcase Presentation submission should be submitted for review as a 150-200 word abstract.
The abstract should address the background/context, initiative/practice, method(s) of evaluative data collection and analysis, evidence of effectiveness and theme(s) addressed. It must contain the following:
- Title;
- Author(s);
- Affiliation;
- Keywords (4-6);
- Discussion/results/evaluation;
- Conclusions/implications;
- Key references, using APA 7th Edition.
Refer to ACEN style guide for abstracts. Proposals not using this template will be returned to the authors and may not be included in the conference program.
Word Limit: no more than 150-200 word abstracts (excluding key references) in length.
Review
Abstracts will be reviewed by the Conference Program Committee against the following criteria:
- alignment with a conference sub-theme
- adherence to the required submission structure
- originality of the practice/ research/ topic or issue
- contribution to new knowledge in WIL
Presentation
Showcase presentations will be allocated 15 minutes to present. Each showcase session will also include question and discussion time. Authors may consider having a copy of an associated paper available for sharing at the conference. A suggested structure for the presentation and associated paper is:
- Title;
- Author(s);
- Affiliation;
- Keywords (4 -6);
- Abstract;
- Conference sub-theme(s) addressed;
- Background/context;
- Overview of practice / initiative;
- Methods/approach;
- Results/discussion/evaluation;
- Conclusions/Implications;
- Key references, using APA 7th Edition.
Publication
Accepted abstracts will be published in the Conference Program and will be available to all delegates and published online. Abstracts submitted in this category meet the criteria for E3 ERA category publication. Presentations in this category are NOT considered to be refereed papers.
3. ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS
Key dates
- Submissions for abstracts for proposed Roundtable Discussions open: Monday 26 July 2021
- Rolling review and acceptance
- Submission deadline: Friday 5 August 2022 (midnight, EST Australia)
Purpose
Roundtable discussions are spaces within the conference program that enable detailed discussion around emerging issues of importance for the conference community. Submissions should consider the importance of the proposed issue alongside how the presenters intend to engage delegates in discussion. These presentations are intended as interactive engagements and should not be extended presentations of papers. Roundtable discussions are 60 minutes in length.
Abstract submission
Proposals for Roundtable Discussions should be submitted for review as a 350 word structured abstract.
The abstract should address the expertise of the convener/s, intended outcomes, overview of activities and details of intended audience. Roundtable abstracts must contain the following:
- Title;
- Convenor(s);
- Affiliation;
- Area of expertise/interest of convenor/presenters;
- Keywords (4-6);
- Conference theme(s) covered;
- Intended aims or outcomes;
- Overview of activities/discussion;
- Intended audience;
- Key references, using APA 7th Edition.
Refer to ACEN style guide for abstracts. Proposals not using this template will be returned to the authors and may not be included in the conference program.
Word Limit: no more than 350 word abstracts (excluding key references) in length.
Review
Abstracts will be evaluated by the Conference Program Committee. Abstracts will be reviewed against the following criteria:
- alignment with a conference sub-theme
- adherence to the required submission structure
- originality of the practice/research/topic or issue
- level of engagement planned for participants
- contribution to new knowledge about co-operative education and WIL
Presentation
Roundtable presentations will be allocated 60 minutes to present/facilitate the session, which will include discussion and activities.
Successful authors may consider having a copy of an associated paper available for sharing at the conference.
Publication
Accepted abstracts will be published in the Conference Program and will be available to all delegates and published online. Abstracts submitted in this category meet the criteria for E3 ERA category publication.
4. POSTER OR POSTER WITH PECHA KUCHA* SUBMISSIONS
Key dates
- Submissions for abstracts for proposed Posters open: Monday 26 July 2021
- Rolling review and acceptance
- Submission deadline: Friday 5 August 2022 (midnight, EST Australia)
Purpose
Poster submissions will be evidence-based and should outline the background/context and outcomes. Posters allow participants with similar interests to interact by using the poster as a discussion point.
Participants may opt to submit for Poster only, or Poster with Pecha Kucha. The two types of submissions are judged by the same selection criteria.
The Pecha Kucha is a short talk (no more than 5 mins) in which the poster presenter “pitches” their poster to the audience in advance of the session in which they present their poster. This format gives presenters the opportunity to speak briefly at the conference and increase the potential audience for their poster.
Submission
Proposals for Poster and Poster with Pecha Kucha submissions should be submitted for review as a 250 word abstract plus an additional 50-100 words on how the proposal for the poster fits the conference theme (total words = 300-350 words).
The abstract must contain the following:
- Title;
- Author(s);
- Affiliation;
- Keywords (4-6);
- Conference theme(s) addressed;
- Background/context;
- Overview of practice/research initiative;
- Discussion/results/evaluation;
- Conclusions/implications;
- Key references, using APA 7th Edition;
- Intention to present a Pecha Kucha.
Refer to ACEN style guide for abstracts. Proposals not using this template will be returned to the authors and may not be included in the conference program.
Review
Abstracts will be evaluated by the Conference Organising Committee. Abstracts for Posters and Posters with Pecha Kucha will be reviewed against the following criteria:
- alignment with a conference sub-theme
- originality of the practice/ research/ topic or issue
- contribution to new knowledge about co-operative education and WIL
Presentation/final submission
Posters will be available for viewing for the duration of the conference. An interactive poster viewing session will be held for authors to discuss their poster with other delegates. Presenters who opt for pecha kucha will present in a conference session before their poster viewing session. Authors can present their work using any layout /design but must present the poster on an A0 size format.
Publication
Submitted abstracts will be published in the Conference Program and will be available to all delegates. Edited versions may also be published online. Poster abstracts submitted in this category meet the criteria for E3 HERDC Publications. Please note that posters accepted in this category are NOT considered refereed papers.
Best poster
All posters accepted for the conference program (with or without pecha kucha) will be eligible for consideration for an award of ‘best conference poster’.