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RSVP CONFERENCE 2027
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Call for Contributions

This is an opportunity to bring together all those involved with and who care about doctoral supervision. We aim to celebrate, challenge, collaborate, co-create and cogitate on the value, purpose, effectiveness and quality of doctoral research supervision practice.

Deadline 30 September 2026

Who should contribute to the conference?

We welcome contributions from supervisors, supervisor developers, researchers, research managers, PGR leads, policy makers, funders and Deans and Directors of Doctoral Schools. We particularly welcome contributions from PGRs and supervisors based in industry.

CONTRIBUTION FORMATS

Four ways to contribute

We want to give everyone an opportunity to share, inspire, and, if desirable, get feedback on their work in a supportive and collaborative environment. We also want to provide a space in which you can express ideas, challenge the status quo and identify opportunities for future collaborations. For that reason, we’re offering four different options:

Scholarly papers

30 mins

Evidence-based research and theoretical perspectives

This is a more conventional opportunity for you to present evidence or practice-based papers drawing on empirical data or the contribution made by theoretical, pedagogic and philosophical perspectives. 

Interactive culture change workshops

60 mins

Hands-on learning that delegates can take home

If you’ve been actively involved in developing a professional development intervention, trialling a new approach to supervision or have created a resource that you can share, then this longer session is for you. We ask that you provide an overview of an intervention or activity and highlight the impact and how it’s enabled cultural, skill or behavioural change at faculty or institutional level. The aim is to send colleagues away with inspiration and something practical they can apply. 

Work in progress carousels

15 mins

Share emerging work and invite feedback

These short sessions enable you to talk about what you’re currently doing to support doctoral supervision or to enhance your own supervisory practice, and to pose questions to the audience. A bit like a clinic, it’s an opportunity to share work in progress and signal what you need in order to refine your work or problem. 

Platform pitch

10 mins

Provoke, inspire, and spark conversation

Choose this format if you have an idea, recommendation, or observation about how supervision practice could be enhanced. This might be based on lived experience or observation. The aim is to share something that you think others might want to get involved with and which would improve supervisory culture. Ask yourself ‘what if’ we were to do this differently.   

SUBMISSION GUIDANCE

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To help you prepare we have summarised the information that the form will ask you for below:

  • Contact details for the primary author

  • Contact details for all co-authors

  • Presentation title

  • Conference pillar alignment: Pedagogy, Practice or Policy

  • Primary theme selection

  • Secondary theme selection

  • Preferred session format

  • Abstract (no longer than 300 words)


Submission ​​​Deadline: 30 September 2026

Preparing your submission

If you have questions or require support, please email rsvp-admin@york.ac.uk

Our Conference Themes

  • Professional development for supervisors in HEIs and Industry

  • Recognition and value of supervision as part of a positive research culture

  • Team and collaborative supervision

  • The ‘hidden curriculum’ of supervision 

  • The ‘Next Generation’ of supervisors

  • Quality and consistency in supervision practice and experience

  • AI, social media and emerging technologies and their impact on supervision 

What happens next…

 

You will receive confirmation of the receipt of your abstract submission. Once the call for contribution closes, all submissions will be reviewed by the RSVP Conference Review Group, and you will be advised of the outcome in early December 2026, ahead of the conference registration deadline.​​​​

CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON?

Online blogs alongside the conference (coming soon)

Later this year, we will be offering an additional opportunity for blog articles on the project themes. This will also be available to those who are unable to attend the conference to share reflections, practice, and provocations around doctoral supervision.

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