CICan Call for Proposals

The Call for Proposals

The Conference is organized into seven streams, outlined below. All sessions should be future oriented, solutions based and address at least three or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We welcome presentations in either English or French. Be creative in your proposals and please highlight how your session fits with the overall conference theme: Growing Talent for a Resilient Future. Call for proposals is open to MEMBERS only.

Congress Streams

Transforming Leadership and Governance

Geared towards governance professionals, including board members and CEOs, this stream will focus on how institutional leaders are embracing transformational leadership and governance to effect change within their institutions and contribute to the socio-economic well-being of their communities.

Examples:

Recognition and acknowledgement of institutions that have processes in place that are flexible, and inclusive.
How health and well-being have been embedded into all aspects of institutional culture and action.
Integration of creative approaches to knowledge acquisition and sharing.
Empowerment of faculty and administrative staff to be agents of change.
Creation of social and innovation spaces that nurture and lead to collaboration within and outside the institution.
Partnerships that bridge gaps and expand learning options for all Canadians, particularly in rural, remote, and northern communities.

Advancing Teaching, Learning and Student Success

This stream will focus on how colleges and institutes orient themselves to ensure the success of their students, create inclusive campus spaces, promote both physical and mental health, and use new technologies to strengthen support services. Sessions will explore how innovative teaching and assessment methods can take learning beyond the typical classroom setting, including virtual and blended learning, traditional Indigenous ways of knowing, and work-integrated learning in the world of AI.

Creating a campus that offers services, programs, and facilities to promote physical and mental health among students with diverse backgrounds and needs.
New disruptive technologies and approaches to student services that reflect how today’s students engage.
Emerging technologies that enhance teaching and learning: platforms and tools, virtual classrooms, social media.
New approaches to hands-on learning: complementing in-class teaching with applied research projects, field-based experiential learning, work-integrated learning, apprenticeship, and co-op placements.
Meeting upskilling and reskilling needs through continuing education, essential skills training or adult basic education, and enhanced prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR).

Leading Sustainability

This stream will examine how colleges and institutes can expand their leadership role in contributing to the SDGs and ensuring sustainability across multiple sectors. Sessions will be guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to include areas like curriculum development, solutions-oriented approaches to applied research, and designing smart green campuses. Sessions will also look at strategies that colleges and institutes are implementing to deliver a just and green transition to a net zero future.

Examples:

Environmental sustainability principles and competency development embedded in curricula.
Development of institutional sustainability plans: successes, challenges, strategies, and best practices.
Setting green standards: including environmental concerns when designing or retrofitting buildings and implementing new projects, relying on alternate energy sources, making sustainable transportation accessible, focusing on low carbon food options, and managing waste responsibly.
Strengthening partnerships with community members, small and medium sized businesses, Indigenous peoples, and government partnerships to increase sustainability.

Strengthening Indigenous Education (Tuesday, April 30)

The right of Indigenous peoples to education is protected by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples along with other international human rights instruments including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This stream will focus on best practices and solutions to improve the access to higher education and ensure the retention and success of Indigenous learners at colleges and institutes and in the labour market.

Examples:

Governance and leadership structures, policies and approaches that facilitate the recruitment, retention, and success of Indigenous learners, faculty and staff.
Curriculum and learning approaches that implement Indigenous intellectual and cultural values, languages, and culture.
Innovative approaches to increase understanding and reciprocity among Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Strong partnerships to support economic development and self-determination of Indigenous communities.
Partnerships with Indigenous communities and businesses to support economic development and self-determination.

Innovating through Applied Research (Wednesday, May 1)

Colleges and institutes occupy a critical space in Canada’s innovation ecosystem through their diverse and growing applied research capacity. College and institute applied research has been and will continue to be a key driver in strengthening the economic resiliency and competitiveness of Canada’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and fostering innovation in communities through social innovation research. Applied research plays an important role in developing Canada’s talent pipeline as it provides space for learners to collaborate with SMEs to research, analyze and develop solutions to real-world challenges.

Examples:

How to increase the capacity of applied research offices and centres to meet the expanding needs of local businesses and entrepreneurs.
The role of social innovation partnerships in addressing community issues and challenges through partnerships with community organizations, non-profits and municipalities.
How colleges are supporting health innovation through partnerships with public health organizations and agencies.
Student engagement in applied research.
Social entrepreneurship and innovation to achieve corporate ESG (environmental social and governance) goals.

Embracing Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility

This stream will look at how institutions can ensure that equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are part of their operational plans and strategic priorities. With social justice on the minds of the students we serve and the staff we employ, embracing EDI practices is a key to organizational success. Sessions will focus on promising practices, lived experiences and growth opportunities when implementing EDI practices in post-secondary education.

Examples:

Policies, practices, and institutional cultures that embrace equity, diversity and inclusion.
Growing an inclusive mindset in leadership.
Opportunities and challenges of technological disruptions for promoting equity, diversity and inclusion.
How to make use of disruptive practices for greater equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Governance structures that facilitate the recruitment, retention, and success of individuals from equity deserving groups such as LGBTQ2, people with disabilities, immigrants, and newcomers.

Cultivating Global Collaborations

Geared towards international education experts and practitioners, this stream will explore how international partnerships, fostering student mobility, pioneering innovations in international assistance, and fostering applied research collaborations are shaping a workforce that is not just ready for the future but is designed to thrive in it.

Examples:

Diverse landscape of international partnerships, from academic and research collaborations to cooperation projects, and cross-sectoral initiatives.
Innovative programs, policies, and strategies that facilitate student movement, from international exchange initiatives to virtual learning environments that transcend borders.
Groundbreaking innovations in international cooperation projects, from pioneering technologies and data-driven approaches to leveraging private-sector relationships for global good.
International applied research that drives innovation and creates solutions to diverse real-world challenges.

Session Formats:

Panel (60 minutes)

Panel sessions begin with a moderator who introduces the topic of the session and the speakers. The moderator will then guide the discussion between the panelists and engage the audience. A panel session provides an opportunity for participants to hear different perspectives on a specific topic.

Proposals must include how the panel will be moderated, either with a named moderator, or self-moderated by the panelists. Maximum of three speakers per panel session. NOTA: Panels involving other CICan member institutions and/or partner organizations will be prioritized.

Campfire (60 minutes)

Campfire sessions begin with presenter(s) speaking about an idea, an initiative, or a project to participants. After 15 or 20 minutes, the focus shifts from the presenter(s) to the audience. The presenter(s) then become facilitators, inviting comments, insights, and questions from participants. This format allows participants to drive their own learning and share experiences with others. Maximum of three presenters per campfire session.

Pre-Recorded Presentations

The Presentation Gallery is a chance to share a virtual presentation. These presentations are pre-recorded and can be up to 60 minutes in length. The style is entirely up to you. Videos submitted to the Presentation Gallery must be .mp4 and via a youtube link (maximum 2MB) and will be uploaded to a site provided by CICan. Your abstract should entice participants to come and view your video. There will be no live Q & A for these sessions, however, you can network with participants at the conference or through our conference App. You must register for the conference to have a pre-recorded presentation in the Gallery.