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Programme

10 September 2019 to 12 September 2019Manchester

Abstract submission is now closed

PLEASE READ ALL THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE SUBMITTING AN ABSTRACT

Type of submission Maximum number of words (references should be included in the word count)
Symposia 750 words
Alternative Format Session 750 words
Individual Papers – option to specify Student, New Researcher, Post-doctoral Researcher, Teacher/Practitioner Researcher Papers 750 words

Important points for submitting an abstract:

  • There is no specific theme for the conference. When submitting an abstract you will need to select a topic (which align to the Special Interest Groups).
  • Once you have signed in, you will be redirected to the abstract submissions page.
  • To submit an abstract select the ‘Submit an Abstract’ drop down menu.
  • Currently you will not need to submit a full paper for the Conference.
  • You should receive an email confirmation with a copy of your abstract once your submission has been completed.

Symposium

750 word abstract of the symposium, and must include the title and a paragraph about each paper in the symposium. The symposium as a whole must have a clear focus and each paper therein must be clearly related to the overall focus/theme of the symposium but also offer distinct perspectives.

Also including references which must be part of the submission. If your abstract does not include a paragraph under the title of each paper, this may be reviewed as an individual abstract. Please also ensure your symposium is anonymous. Your abstract may be edited to anonymise for the reviewing process and if successful can then edited to include presenters for each paper. Symposiums are 90 mins long and consist of more than one paper on a related theme. There is no limit to the number of papers in a symposium, but you are restricted by time.

Reviewing criteria:

  • Clarity of the focus of the research
  • Originality of the symposium proposal
  • Rigour and coherence of the symposium and its individual papers
  • Significance of the research for education practice, policy or theory

Alternative Format Session

We are open to all new ways of presenting and demonstrating a non traditional approach to an academic presentation of research, and will be offering this category of submission to those who wish to try something new. Options include:

  • Panel discussion (60 mins)
  • Workshop (90 mins)
  • Activity (90 mins)
  • Offsite + plenary (60 mins)
  • Video workshop (60 mins)
  • Poster session
  • Live Streaming Session (60 or 90 mins)

750 word abstract including references which must be part of the submission

Reviewing criteria:

  • Clarity of the focus of the research
  • Suitability of the session format
  • Rigour of the research
  • Significance of the proposal for practice, policy or theory

Individual Papers

Individual Papers will be grouped into coherent symposia of two/three papers in a 60/90 minute slot. These sessions will have the discussion after each paper, rather than a session at the end.

750 word abstract including references which must be part of the submission

Reviewing criteria:

  • Clarity of the focus of the research
  • Originality of the research
  • Rigour of the research
  • Significance of the research for education practice, policy or theory

Option to specify Student, New Researcher, Post-doctoral Researcher, Teacher/Practitioner Researcher Papers

All these papers will be reviewed using the same criteria as for the main conference submissions but with a recognition that the authors are less experienced researchers. These papers will appear in the main conference programme.

BERA aims to celebrate and promote the work of our Students. The top ten scoring Student abstracts will be automatically shortlisted for the BERA Student Presentation Award.

  • 1st prize – £300 + Complimentary attendance at the BERA Annual Conference 2020
  • 2nd prize – £100
  • 3rd prize – £50

Bursaries

There are various bursaries available to assist with attendance at the conference. Please visit the bursary information page for further details on the opportunities available. 

Apply for a bursary

Abstract review process

Each abstract is reviewed blindly by two reviewers drawn from members of the relevant SIG (Special Interest Groups), or one of the BERA Committees.

All BERA members will have the opportunity to peer review the abstracts submitted. If you would like to be added to the database please click here.

If the same abstract is submitted under different SIGs only one SIG will review this abstract and you will only receive one set of results.

Results

There is limited space on the programme and sessions available at the conference. Each year we are mindful that presenters do not want more sessions as the rooms will not be as full. Therefore there will always be a percentage of papers rejected. In the last few years this is around 30% of papers are rejected. The Conference & Events Committee continually review the processes to ensure these are fair and transparent.

Authors will be notified of the date and time of the presentation if accepted after the early bird deadline, when all presenters need to register. This is to ensure once the programme is grouped, this consists of confirmed presenters only.

> For individual submissions

  • Only the one abstract will be accepted per main author, which will be the highest scoring paper. You can still submit more than one paper.
  • This does not apply if you are a co-author on other papers
  • Similarly this does not apply if you have also been accepted for a symposia or alternative format session

BERA reserves the right to reassign your abstract to a different SIG than submitted if more relevant for grouping purposes.

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

BERA SIGs vary in character, function and level of activities and participation in them is one of the benefits of being a member of BERA. All submissions should indicate the SIG which closely relates to the topic when submitting. If your abstract is accepted the convenors who group the individual papers, can check other similar papers and may change the SIG at the programming stage. If your paper abstract does not fall within the remits of the listed SIGs, please email conference@bera.ac.uk and you will be given instructions how to submit. For more information on SIGs visit: https://www.bera.ac.uk/communities/special-interest-groups