All submissions are subject to rigorous peer review and the selection of papers for presentation is based solely on quality. There is no requirement for submissions to directly address the conference theme. Empirical and scholarly research from a wide range of perspectives is welcome.

All submissions will be judged by the following criteria*:

• Originality of the question(s) addressed
• Effective use and clear explanation of research methodology
• Clarity of the research aims and objectives and outcomes
• The extent to which the work is rooted in the relevant literature
• Significance of the research and the (potential) contribution added to what is known about the area researched
• Where applicable: the quality of the data and the reliability and significance of the conclusions
• The quality of the argument/evidence presented, whether derived from empirical work or scholarly analysis

*The SRHE welcomes submissions from every stage of the research cycle – from projects recently underway to published findings. Reviewers will consider the stage of the research project when applying the assessment criteria

Papers are invited for presentation under one of ten broad research domains. This aids the organisation of a thematically streamed programme. Although many papers have the potential to fall under a number of domains, we ask that authors indicate their first preference. The final decision on the domain to which a paper is assigned will be made by the lead assessors as part of the peer review process.

• Academic practice, work, careers and cultures (AP)
• Digital University and new learning technologies (DU)
• Employability, enterprise and graduate careers (EE)
• Higher Education policy (HEP)
• International contexts and perspectives (ICP)
• Learning, teaching and assessment (LTA)
• Management, leadership, governance and quality (MLGQ)
• Postgraduate scholarship and practice (PGSP)
• Student Access and Experience (SAE)
• Technical, Professional and Vocational Higher Education (TPV)

You are invited to contribute to the conference in a variety of forms:

• Research Paper
• Symposium
• Poster

We encourage presenters to share their work in creative ways and welcome different styles and formats – particularly those which maximise the digital format of this year’s event – to encourage and stimulate discussion and engagement with session participants. The same paper must not be submitted to more than one strand.

Research Papers

Research papers may be:

• Papers which are advanced or complete, and where findings/analysis can be fully reported.
• Work in progress empirical/data-based studies. The work can be newly underway, and presenters may focus on theory, methodology, and conceptual framework rather than reporting on preliminary/final findings and analysis.
• Scholarly papers which are discussion pieces or work at the cutting edge of debate on policy and practice featuring novel arguments and exploring difficult questions.

Authors are required to submit:
Part 1 Summary: a 150-word abstract which will be included in the conference programme/available online via the conference website.
Part 2 Paper: a maximum 750-word paper (excluding references and figures), which will be available to download via the conference website.

Symposium

Symposia provide the opportunity to present 3 to 4 related research papers on a single theme. An individual proposing a Symposium (Symposium Convenor) will be responsible for the title for the session, for inviting colleagues to contribute their papers and is expected to approve the papers from their invited authors before they are submitted.

A Symposium proposal submission must include:

• A 400-word rationale for the Symposium,
• The names of the Convenor and/or the Chair of the Symposium,
• Name of a discussant if appropriate
• The names and details of all participating presenters plus the title of each presentation planned. Provisional titles are acceptable.

Once the Symposium proposal has been submitted, then invited contributions can then be submitted via the conference system.

Contribute a Paper to a Symposium

Only those invited by a Symposium Convenor can submit a contribution to a symposium.
Your paper will be individually reviewed for its own contribution and how it relates to the symposium rationale. A symposium will not be accepted unless all papers are rated as good or excellent.

Contributing authors are required to submit:
Part 1 Summary: a 150-word abstract which will be included in the conference programme/available online via the conference website.
Part 2 Paper: a maximum 750-word paper (excluding references and figures), which will be available to download via the conference website.

Poster (E-Poster)

Papers are invited for submission for presentation as a poster. Please note that all Newer & Early Career Researchers who submit a poster will be entered into our annual poster competition.

Our virtual platform will allow you to upload your poster (in PDF format) along with a pre-recorded presentation – conference attendees will be able to view and post comments on your presentation throughout the entire conference. We will also have dedicated poster exhibition sessions within the conference programme; during these sessions, attendees will be able to drop into each presenter’s personal Zoom room to chat about your poster presentation.

SRHE will provide guidance to help you to upload and present your materials successfully.

Authors are required to submit:
Part 1 Summary: a 150-word abstract which will be printed in the conference programme and online via the conference website.
Part 2 Paper: A maximum 400-word outline (excluding references and figures) of the poster’s research question, key ideas, methodology/techniques, and where applicable, preliminary or final results/conclusions, which will be available to download via the conference website.