ISEP Conference

Join us virtually for the 2026 conference!

0Days

When & Where

October 14-16 2026

Virtually

Who Attends

  • Higher Education Faculty & Administrators
  • Educational Planners
  • Policy Makers
  • Researchers
  • Leaders Involved in Educational Planning
  • Educational & Government Consultants
  • School Teachers & Administrators
  • Local Government Leaders
  • Graduate Students

Conference Theme

Investing in a Collective Purpose of the Educational Process

Communication, teamwork, and the dynamic evolution of education are inherently human endeavors. Investing in educational planning during this current moment requires attention to both individual capability and a larger collective purpose. The conference themes of people, ideas, things, and an open strand are designed to provide opportunities for presenters to showcase research, practices, and innovations that advance educational planning and strengthen learning communities around the world. Through dialogue and collaboration, attendees will explore how educational systems can remain adaptive, inclusive, and responsive amid ongoing global change.

Join us at the ISEP Conference to be part of a transformative dialogue that shapes the future of education. Together, we can unlock the full potential of individuals and communities, empowering them to thrive in an ever-changing world.

This sub-theme focuses on the human dimensions of educational planning and leadership. Sessions will explore how educators, leaders, students, and communities engage collaboratively to develop sustainable educational environments during periods of change, uncertainty, and disruption. Presentations may examine leadership approaches, professional learning, organizational development, community engagement, and strategies that support student resilience and well-being across educational systems. Potential topics may include:

  • Developing leadership capacity for sustainable educational transformation 
  • Building resilience and well-being among educators, students, and school communities 
  • Fostering inclusive and equitable educational cultures during times of change 
  • Supporting collaboration and trust-building across diverse educational communities 
  • Professional learning opportunities that strengthen educational leadership and planning 
  • Community-driven approaches to educational decision-making and problem-solving 
  • Strategies for supporting underserved and nontraditional student populations 
  • Human-centered leadership during educational crises and disruptions 
  • Social-emotional learning (SEL) and trauma-informed educational practices 
  • Strengthening relationships among students, educators, families, and communities

This sub-theme explores innovative ideas, emerging trends, and evolving educational paradigms that shape the future of educational planning. Sessions will examine how educational institutions globally are responding to changing learner needs through innovation, creativity, competency-based learning, and new approaches to teaching, learning, and assessment. Presentations may also investigate the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), interdisciplinary thinking, and the relationship between educational institutions, their stakeholders, and their communities. Potential topics may include:

  • Innovative educational planning models for future-focused learning environments 
  • Reimagining curriculum and instructional practices for changing learner needs 
  • Competency-based and personalized learning approaches 
  • Creativity and innovation in educational leadership and policy 
  • The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in transforming education, assessment, and evaluation
  • Interdisciplinary approaches to teaching, learning, and educational problem-solving 
  • Emerging educational paradigms that support adaptability and flexibility 
  • Educational innovation that strengthens school-community partnerships 
  • Policies and frameworks that encourage transformative educational change 
  • Visionary approaches to preparing learners for an evolving global society

This sub-theme examines the tools, systems, infrastructure, and methodologies that support effective educational planning and institutional sustainability. Sessions will explore how educational environments can create engaging and supportive experiences for learners while also addressing operational efficiency, fiscal resilience, and organizational effectiveness. Presentations may investigate both contemporary and classical theories, technological tools, and interdisciplinary approaches that support planning during uncertain times. Potential topics may include:

  • Sustainability and emerging challenges in educational environments and systems  
  • Educational technologies that enhance teaching, learning, and collaboration 
  • Infrastructure solutions that support equitable access and institutional effectiveness 
  • Data-informed decision-making and strategic planning practices 
  • Technological systems that strengthen educational operations and communication 
  • Fiscal resilience and resource management in educational institutions 
  • Tools and methodologies for organizational assessment and improvement 
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies in educational environments 
  • Designing engaging and supportive physical and virtual learning spaces 
  • Institutional systems that support learner success and holistic well-being 
  • Planning structures that improve organizational readiness and sustainability

The open theme provides opportunities for broader exploration of educational planning topics beyond the specific focus areas of people, ideas, and things. This sub-theme encourages presenters to share research, case studies, innovative practices, and interdisciplinary perspectives that address current and emerging challenges in education. Sessions may explore how educational planners, leaders, and policymakers respond to expected and unexpected disruptions while creating equitable, effective, and sustainable educational environments. Potential topics may include:

  • Lessons learned from educational crises and global disruptions 
  • Creative and interdisciplinary approaches to educational challenges 
  • Research, case studies, and evaluations in educational planning 
  • Cultural perspectives and global contexts in education 
  • Social justice, equity, and inclusion across educational systems 
  • Policy and governance issues affecting educational institutions worldwide 
  • The evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education 
  • Readiness and response strategies for emerging educational challenges 
  • Economic, political, and societal influences on educational systems 
  • Innovative ideas and future directions in educational planning and leadership

Submit a Proposal

Proposal Submission Guidelines

ISEP accepts presentation proposals on a rolling basis until the proposal deadline. The following information will be included in your online proposal submission:

  • First Presenter’s Information: Name, Email address, Current Position, Institution, and Address
  • Additional Presenter’s Information: Names, Email addresses, Current Positions, Institutions, and Addresses
  • Presentation Format
  • Thematic Session (select from the list above)
  • Title of Presentation
  • Presentation Abstract for inclusion in conference program (100-150 words)
  • Presentation Description to be reviewed for acceptance decision (350-500 words)
    • Objectives for the proposal
    • Summary of content

Presenters may appear in the program twice as a main presenter, and no more than two times as an additional presenter. Presentations should be designed for a 20-minute time slot that includes time for questions from the audience.

Papers derived from the presentations can be submitted for peer-review for possible inclusion in the Educational Planning Journal.

Important Dates

  • August 1, 2026: Deadline for proposal submission.
  • August 15, 2026: Notification of acceptance.
  • October 1, 2026: Registration due. Full registration fee must be received no later than this date for the presentation and presenter(s) to be listed on the conference program. Accepted presenters planning to attend must pay registration fee for the Conference, even if they plan to attend the conference only on the day of their presentation. Any author identified in the presentation, but not officially registered for the conference by the due date, will not be listed in the official program of the conference.

Research Idea Lightning Talks

When submitting your proposal, you will have the opportunity to submit a Research Idea Lightning Talk!

ISEP provides researchers with a great opportunity for collective feedback and recruiting collaboration to complete research. This session is simply a place to express new ideas and draw in possible interested collaborators.

Do you have a research idea that you’d like others to join in on for expansion or for unique perspectives? Do you have a research idea that bridges practice and theory, but you need to enlist collaborators? Do you have a BIG research idea that you need other researchers to join to complete? This individual or group presentation creates an opportunity to present research at lightning speed!

The purpose of these talks is for scholars to present a lightning talk on a research idea in 5 minutes or less. Each individual or group will be allowed 5 minutes and is limited to one PPT slide. Think of this as brainstorming under time constraint and consider the following as useful presentation guides:

  1. Project nature, title, one sentence background statement
  2. Problem the research seeks to address and its importance
  3. Project current status and accomplishment(s) to date
  4. Potential for scholarship and/or implications for practice
  5. Call for assistance (seeking collaborators or feedback). Be sure to provide contact information or additional meeting information for anyone who might be interested. Any additional meetings for these ideas would not be scheduled during the conference and would be the full responsibility of the presenter(s) to organize and facilitate.

Research Idea Lightening Talks can be submitted online with your conference presentation submission. The deadlines and conference attendance costs follow those for regular sessions. All Research Lightning Talk presenters must be registered for the conference to be included in the program.

Sponsor the Conference

Conference Planning Committee

  • Chair: Leslie Trimmer
  • Caroline Crawford
  • Walter Polka
  • Caitlin Riegel
  • Ann-Marie Wilmot
  • Ebru Karatas
  • T. DeVere Wolsey
  • Alsaeed Alshamy
  • Maruff Akinwale Oladejo
  • Noran Moffett
  • Xolani Khalo
  • Yaffa Buskila
  • Arvin Johnson

Why Attend

Why should you attend an ISEP conference?

Just ask long time ISEP member, Carol Cash!