Call for abstracts
The 3rd International Conference on School Social Work invites scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and doctoral researchers from across the globe to submit abstracts for presentation.
Hosted by Mid Sweden University, this international gathering will provide a vibrant interdisciplinary space to advance research, policy dialogue, and innovative practice in school social work.
In an era marked by widening inequality, migration, mental health challenges, and educational reform, school social workers play a vital role in safeguarding student wellbeing, promoting equity, and strengthening family–school–community partnerships. This conference will explore how the profession responds to these complexities locally and globally.
Conference Themes
- Student Health and Well-Being
- School Anxiety and School Avoidance
- Poverty-Aware Social Work Interventions in Schools
- Trauma-Informed Practice in Schools
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Education
- Professional Practice in School Social Work
- Family and Community Engagement
- Global Perspectives on Education and Welfare Policy
We welcome empirical research, theoretical papers, practice-based innovations, policy analyses, participatory and visual methodologies, and global comparative studies. Contributions that foreground interdisciplinary collaboration are particularly encouraged.
A Special Issue will be published by International Journal of School Social Work Journal in 2027.
Submission Guidelines
Abstracts should be a maximum of 300 words and clearly outline:
- Purpose and focus
- Theoretical or practice framework
- Methodology (if applicable)
- Key findings or anticipated contributions
Please include author name(s), affiliation(s), contact details, and indicate preferred presentation formats.
The conference aims to foster international partnerships and strengthen the global identity of school social work as a profession committed to justice, well-being, and educational inclusion.
Further details regarding submission deadlines and registration will be announced shortly.
We look forward to welcoming you to Sweden in October 2026.
Presentation Formats
The conference offers several presentation formats designed to accommodate different types of contributions, stages of research, and forms of scholarly exchange. Participants are invited to indicate their preferred format when submitting an abstract.
Oral Presentation
Oral presentations provide an opportunity to present completed or well-developed research, theoretical work, or practice-based studies within a thematic session. Each presentation is 15–25 minutes in length and is followed by 5 minutes for questions. This format allows presenters to outline the purpose of the study, theoretical or conceptual framework, methodology, and key findings.
Lightning Session
Lightning sessions are short, focused presentations designed to communicate a central idea, preliminary findings, or work in progress in a concise format. Each presentation lasts 7 minutes and is strictly timed. The emphasis is on clarity, precision, and a clear take-home message. Lightning sessions will be organized around shared themes and may conclude with a collective discussion.
Workshop
Workshops are interactive sessions that encourage dialogue, collaboration, and active participation. These sessions last 60 minutes and may combine brief presentations with facilitated discussion, group exercises, methodological demonstrations, or reflective activities. Workshops are particularly well suited for methodological innovation, practice-oriented approaches, policy dialogue, and interdisciplinary engagement.
Poster Presentation
Poster presentations offer a visual and interactive way to present research projects. During poster sessions, authors display their work in a graphical format and engage directly with conference participants in informal discussions.