Guidelines for abstracts

    Researchers on adult education and adult learning from various sectors and disciplines are invited to submit abstracts addressing the conference themes. Contributions from colleagues outside of Europe are very welcome.

    The conference will feature a range of discussion and presentation formats including plenaries, papers, symposia, roundtables, workshops and poster sessions. In submitting an abstract, please clearly specify at the beginning of the abstract whether it is a 1) paper 2) a poster session 3) a symposium 4) a workshop or 5) a roundtable that is being proposed.
     
    Paper and poster presentations proposals should be no more than 500 words and include information on aims/objectives; main perspective or theoretical/conceptual framework; methods, research design, mode of inquiry; data sources or evidence; results and/or conclusions; significance in connection to the conference themes.
     
    A Symposium should include a 500 word summary of the overall proposal specifying aims/objectives; main perspective or theoretical/conceptual framework; significance in ​connection to the conference theme, and a description of how the session will be structured, and a 200-250 word description of each individual presentation.
     
    A Workshop proposal should include a 500 word summary describing the objectives, the target audience, planned activities, significance in connection to the conference theme, a description of how the session will be structured, and a list of equipment or room set-up requirements.
     
    A Roundtable proposal should include a 500 word summary of the overall proposal specifying aims/objectives; a description of how the session will be structured; a 100 word description of the contribution of each participant; and significance in connection to the conference themes.
     
    The deadline for submission of abstracts is 12th February 2016.
     
    The Scientific Committee of ESREA 2016 is responsible for the selection of the submitted abstracts. Latest notification of acceptance is 14th March 2016. Please submit abstracts in two separate files: one including the title, type of session, the name, address, e-mail of each author; and the second one including the paper title and abstract. Please send your abstract in RTF-format. Abstracts should be submitted to esrea2016@mu.ie. Details of the membership of the Scientific Committee will be posted in November 2015 on this website.

    Criteria for Review of Abstracts
     
    Abstracts for papers and other types of sessions are welcome from all fields of research on adult learning.
     
    The criteria used in reviewing each abstract will be as follows:
     

    • Should be connected to the education and learning of adults;
    • Should make reference to a theoretical framework, involve systematic inquiry of an analytic or empirical nature;
    • Background, method, results and implications should be set out clearly in a manner which is accessible to an international audience.

    The same criteria will be used for workshops, symposia and roundtables as well as an additional criterion:

    • Clear description of the format and rationale for the session.

    Language

    The abstract, the paper and its presentation should be in English. Simultaneous translation will not be available in plenary sessions. However, where possible, in line with the ESREA language policy, efforts will be made to provide some translation in the parallel sessions. Please bear in mind when presenting a paper that you are speaking to an international audience, the majority of whom may not be familiar with your own country let alone its adult educational system. Please avoid the use of acronyms and do not use expressions which relate to your adult educational system/learning setting without providing a contextual explanation.