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Call for Papers

Background and Objectives

In an increasingly globalized world, we cannot ignore the stark humanitarian realities of our time. The media brings us images of countless impoverished families suffering from extreme hunger, and communities struggling to cope with the devastating effects of another natural disaster. The vast disproportion of access to education and technology also exists, creating a socio-economic divide.

However, the media has influenced funding to be contributed towards aid relief like never before, and international partnerships, community organisations and providers of education and technology are eagerly striving towards a better world, and the ultimate goal of eradicating poverty.

Recognizing these global challenges, the progress that is currently happening and the potential for a more equitable world for all, the theme for the Education Without Borders 2007 conference is:

Innovative Solutions to Global Challenges

As committed, educated and socially-conscious members of our young generation, we have enormous potential to positively impact our global community through sharing our research, innovations and ideas for viable projects.

Nonetheless, important questions need to be considered: Who is responsible for implementing change in the affected areas? What are the roles of governments, organisations, universities, the media and individuals? How can we bring about change that is sustainable in the long-term?

Under the broad theme of Innovative Solutions to Global Challenges, several sub?themes have been identified, and submissions will be accepted for any one of them. These sub-themes are not to limit creativity, but rather to provide direction.

Sub-themes

1. Harnessing Education and Technology to End Poverty

Education and technology are specific tools that can be used in poverty-reduction schemes for empowering poor people, assisting development and providing opportunity. While poverty exists in both the developed and developing worlds, different strategies need to be implemented to maximize the effectiveness of these tools in fighting poverty.

Papers/project proposals for this sub-theme should cover one or more of the following:

  • Examine how education has been or could be used as a tool to fight poverty in the developing and/or developed worlds
  • Examine how technology has been or could be used as a tool to fight poverty in the developing and/or developed worlds
  • Explain how education and technology can be used as business tools to end poverty
  • Explore the role that education/technology plays in facilitating future self-sufficiency for those with special needs

2. Media: A Tool for Social Impact

The media has always influenced public awareness, opinion and activities, both through its directed attention, and also lack of attention on various events and issues. It can be a tool for positive social impact towards global challenges, but other factors can reduce its influence, as highlighted in recent times.

Papers/project proposals for this sub-theme should cover one or more of the following:

Show how to draw media attention to traditionally underrepresented locations/events (i.e. Darfur crisis, Northern Uganda crisis, African news etc)

  • Examine the effect of media on outcomes of relief efforts (i.e. Kashmir earthquake with little aid vs. Indonesia , Sri Lanka , Thailand tsunami relief or Hurricane Katrina vs. Rita and Wilma)
  • Show how media has been or is being used as a tool for social impact
  • Explain how you plan to use media as a tool for social impact
  • Explore the role the media should play in educating the general public about humanitarian crises
  • Explore the role of educational institutions and the media in educating the general public about individuals with special needs

3. Responding to Natural Disasters as a Global Community

Natural disasters affect millions of people every year and are a major contributor towards poverty. Significant advancements need be made in the prevention of natural disasters, preparedness of disaster-prone areas, and the global community's response to reduce the humanitarian impact of these events.

Papers/project proposals for this sub-theme should cover one or more of the following:

  • Explore the way that technology has improved the prevention of natural disasters
  • Examine how technology has improved the immediate and delayed response to natural disasters
  • Show how aid can be sustained for people affected by natural disasters, after the initial shock and media attention has moved away from them
  • Explore how specific nations react to natural disasters in other countries
  • Describe how educational institutions have been or could be utilized in the response to natural disasters
  • Explore the role of educational awareness in natural disaster preparation
  • Examine the role that official (i.e. UN) and non-official organizations should play in responding to natural disasters (before, during and after)

4. Inequitable Access to Education and Technology in a Knowledge Economy

In a world where more countries are becoming information-based societies and knowledge economies, the developing world is challenged by the digital divide and access to resources. Developing countries, and also individuals with special needs, still have a long way to go before equal access to education and technology is a reality.

Papers/project proposals for this sub-theme should cover one or more of the following:

  • Define a knowledge economy and the changing technology needs in the increasingly globalized world
  • Examine the responsibility of global governments, organizations, universities and individuals in resolving the digital divide
  • Explore how to provide access to technology in the developing world
  • Show how higher education can be mobilized toward closing the digital divide
  • Explain how to provide education and access to technology without causing "brain drain"
  • Explore how to ensure that individuals with special needs have equal access to education and technology

Submissions

Submissions must be from students in institutions of higher education, specifically undergraduate and graduate students. They must be original and unpublished work. Submissions should clearly address one, and only one, of the sub-themes listed above. Papers can be in the form of:

  • Academic research papers
  • Critical analysis papers
  • Project proposals for entrepreneurial ideas

Academic research papers should reflect a substantive amount of work on behalf of the submitter and should provide and clearly indicate a new contribution. This means that research papers are assumed to present original research. Graduate students are encouraged to consider this option. Academic research papers may be co-authored.

Critical analysis papers should reflect a substantive amount of work on behalf of the submitter and must not be co-authored. Critical analysis in this context does not refer to critical theory. Rather, such papers should present an original synthesis of ideas, expressed in the author's words. It is not sufficient to simply summarize results described in one or more papers. Contributions should focus on one or more of the following: comparing, contrasting, examining, synthesizing, assessing, reflecting and exploring aspects of the sub-themes above. Undergraduate students are encouraged to consider this option.

Project proposals for entrepreneurial ideas should reflect a substantive amount of work on behalf of the submitter and provide a new, ideally innovative, solution to a problem that is realizable. The solution should be relevant to the sub-themes listed above. Proposals are expected to be of such a scope that one or a few entrepreneurs with reasonable funding could implement them. Project proposals may be co-authored .

The author of each accepted paper or project proposal will be invited to attend EWB 2007 and have their on-site conference costs covered. This means that the entire stay in the United Arab Emirates will be for free. Travel costs to Abu Dhabi , however, have to be covered by the participants themselves. A selection of the best papers and proposals will be included in the proceedings of the conference.

One author of each of the top papers and proposals will be given the chance to present his or her work and compete for awards at the conference. Awards for project proposals might include funding to actually implement it. Presentations can be in the form of posters, workshops or plenary presentations. Those authors selected to present at the conference will have their travel expenses covered, in addition to their on-site conference costs.

Format

For papers and project proposals use the templates provided on the conference website
(papertemp.doc , projecttemp.doc ). Do not change the formatting of the templates! The templates are designed for MS Word. If you do not have access to a licensed copy of MS Word use the freeware package OpenOffice. OpenOffice can be downloaded for free at http://www.openoffice.org/ .

Papers and proposals should be in English and follow this format:

  • A4 paper format
  • State the sub-theme addressed
  • Use the following formatting for the filename: ? lastname_name_typeofpapere.doc ?. Use the following abbreviations for type of paper: ca for critical analysis, ar for academic research, pp for project proposal (e.g. Miller_Alex_ca.doc, Fisher_Melanie_ar.doc, gonzales_alfonso_pp.doc)
  • Include an abstract of 200 words maximum
  • 10 pages maximum , including tables, figures and references
  • Have an introduction, body, conclusion and references.

Your project proposal should contain all sections suggested in the template.

Submissions will be rejected if they do not follow the specified formatting requirements.

Submission Instructions

Papers or project proposals will be submitted via the EWB website: http://ewb2007.com . More details on how to submit papers will be available shortly.

All submissions should be in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf), MS Word (.doc), OpenOffice (.odt) or Rich Text (.rtf) format. Submissions must be received by 22:00 (10 PM) GMT on the appropriate submission date listed below. Hard copies of papers or proposals will not be accepted. Receipt of submission will be confirmed via email.

 
 
 
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