Call for Papers
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Abstracts to the IHERC can be submitted in two categories. Authors will be required to submit a 1,000 word (extended) abstract, mapped to one of the themes of the conference. Upon acceptance, authors will be required to submit full papers, not exceeding 7,000 words, prior to the conference.
Category A: Academic research papers: Papers in this category will be based on rigorous research with a clear contribution to knowledge and potential for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Papers can be focused on higher education as a field of study or from other disciplines that examine higher education. Abstracts must be placed with respect to the current state of the field and the contribution must be clearly described. Abstracts need to highlight the conceptual or theoretical contributions, an explanation of the methodological approach and findings. Papers need not be based on Indian higher education, but need to demonstrate clear connections with the same in the abstract and the presentation.
This category of submissions is suited for academics, doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, researchers working on think-tanks/policy organisations and research staff working on higher education projects.
Category B: Research to practice papers: Papers in this category will based on strong empirical evidence about Indian higher education. These papers need not be immediately aimed at peer-reviewed journal publications, but need to demonstrate contribution to the collective understanding of Indian higher education policy and practice. Papers in this category will need to be empirically sound with clear evidence or pathways for influencing practice and policy. These will contribute to the conversation between researchers and practitioners on Indian higher education, and provide insights from practice around various aspects of Indian higher education.
This category of submissions are suited for researchers, higher education practitioners from universities, policy makers, consultants, and research professionals and practitioners in think tanks.
Call for special sessions at the IHERC
IHERC invites centre/institutes of higher education in various universities across the world to submit proposals to host a “special session” around a thematic area of their preference.
A special session will include (1) an invited speaker session by a recognized researcher in the field of higher education (2) three paper presentation submitted through the conference in any of the two categories, mentioned below. Each special session will be for 90 min.
Once the special session proposal are accepted, submitting authors to the conference will have an option to submit their papers to the special session (as of the themes). Special session organisers will need to Chair the sessions and review the papers submitted for their session.
Conference agenda
IHREC 2025 will be organised around multiple sessions in thematic areas. Each session will be of 90 min, and will be chaired by one of the session chairs. Each session will include a few accepted research paper presentations (from any of the two categories above) and one invited speaker session.
Besides paper presentations, IHERC will also host the following:
- Keynote sessions: IHERC will host eminent researchers and practitioners in the field of higher education as invited speakers for keynote sessions.
- Panel discussions: IHERC will host three panels, one each on research, policy and practice on Indian higher education. The panels will be open to attending all those who are participating in the conference.
- Paper development workshops: All accepted papers will be eligible for participating in a paper development workshop (Detailed to be announced later).
Conference Manager and contact
To be updated soon. For now all queries for the conference can be sent to ihern@iiitd.ac.in