2025 SIETAR USA National Conference - 11-15  November

Call for Proposals Overview Information:

Inclusive Interculturalism: Purpose, Possibilities, and Progress

We live in complex times. Regionally, nationally, and globally. We are confronted with social, political, and economic changes. These changes impact people of all cultural backgrounds and identities, as well as the communities, organizations, and interpersonal relationships we all depend upon. It is time to gather, reconnect, and support each other personally and professionally. SIETAR USA (Society for Intercultural Education, Training, and Research) invites you to submit proposals to present or facilitate sessions during our in-person and online conference this coming November.

The theme of "Inclusive Interculturalism: Purpose, Possibilities, and Progress" offers us the opportunity to practice what we often teach: namely, that we need to seek multiple perspectives and engage respectfully across a myriad of differences to live and work at our highest and best in our deeply interconnected and interdependent world. As you craft your proposals for review, please design them to foster both inclusion and intercultural perspectives and practices. 

NOTES:

1. The SIETAR USA Board released a statement conveying the need for us to address both interculturalism and inclusion this Winter.
2. Here is a link to well-researched definitions of both constructs for you to refer to as needed.
3. We have conducted a brief Needs Assessment survey and are sharing the results. We highly recommend you review this data before you finalize your submission.

Conference Tracks

We have curated three tracks for you to submit your session/s within, based on which segment(s) of populations (community, organizational, or individual) your proposal will facilitate learning to serve more fully. You can choose any combination of these three that best matches your proposed offering: 

• Inclusive Interculturalism in the environment, the communities, and the field(s) we serve.
• Inclusive Interculturalism within the organizations we serve.
• Inclusive Interculturalism within ourselves and the individuals we serve.

Presentation Format Options

This year, there will be both In-Person and Online sessions. All sessions, including Pre-Conference (formerly known as Master Workshops) and regular conference sessions, require the submission of a CFP for peer review. You are welcome and encouraged to propose sessions for both the Online and In-Person days of the conference. Please consider the following schedule when evaluating your options:

Online Pre-Conference Workshops | Tues., Nov. 11: 

• Half-day Pre-Conference Workshop (3 hours with two 15-minute breaks)
• Quarter Day Pre-Conference Workshop (90 minutes with one 15-minute break)

In-Person Pre-Conference Workshops | Wed., Nov. 12: 

• Half-day Pre-Conference Workshop (3 hours with two 15-minute breaks)
• Full-day Pre-Conference session (6 hours with two 15-minute breaks plus a 1.5-hour lunch break) 

In-Person Concurrent Sessions | Thurs., Fri., and Sat.. (Nov. 13, 14, and 15)

• Types of sessions and durations listed below

FORMATS:

• Workshop: A workshop typically features a combination of presentations and interaction, with a well-defined structure, handouts, and visual aids. Within this format, simulations or sets of exercises may be conducted to teach participants how these methods can be utilized in training and education. Please note: SUSA conference workshop participants expect both a deep level of learning and a high degree of experiential engagement. We also expect workshops to employ strong assessment outcomes practices.

Duration: Pre-Workshops are either 1.5, 3 or 6 hours. Regular conference workshops are 90 minutes.

• Panel Discussion: A panel brings together the perspectives of three or more presenters to discuss best practices and applications of concepts and theories. These sessions aim to engage audience members by encouraging them to consider the multiple perspectives presented and the impact on current and future intercultural/DEIB professional practice. Plan for a maximum of 45-minute panelist discussion with a minimum of 15 minutes for audience Q&A

Duration: The panel discussion session is 60 minutes.

• Presentation: A presentation typically involves one or two presenters (teams are strongly preferred) who report on a project, a new development in their work, a new conceptualization of an existing theory or practice, a revision of a method, or something of general interest to most conference participants. Plan for a maximum of 45 minutes for the presentation with a minimum of 15 minutes for audience Q&A or discussion.

Duration: The presentation session is 60 minutes.

• Reflective Forum: A forum is a structured discussion involving participants on a topic relevant to the conference theme. We encourage experienced facilitators to submit proposals that outline the reflection model or format they plan to use to lead the process. Please note: This forum provides an opportunity for participants to engage in addressing a controversial issue or urgent topic in the intercultural field. 

Duration: The reflective forum session lasts for either 60 or 90 minutes.

• Round Table Discussion: A roundtable discussion promotes deep dialogue, shared learning, and collaborative problem-solving. This small-group format allows participants to exchange insights, explore challenges, and co-create actionable strategies around key topics that affect our communities and organizations. Each table will concentrate on a specific theme—leadership, interculturalism, and inclusion—led by a facilitator who will help ignite discussion and capture emerging ideas.

Duration: The round table session consists of three rounds of 15 minutes each, with time to change tables between each round, for 60 minutes total.

• Research: This format involves a lecture and a discussion of the results of a research project or academic study. Researchers are encouraged to share electronic copies of their papers with the audience. The Conference Program Chairs reserve the right to combine research presentations into a single session if they deem it appropriate. Please note: 
• SUSA audiences value a question-and-answer (Q&A) period.  
• Presentations will be 10 minutes long. We will stack 3-4 presentations together with time at the end for discussion.

Duration: The research session is 60 minutes.

• NED Talk: At least one conference session time slot will be dedicated to showcasing a series of 10-minute TED-style talks. NED Talks, similar to TED Talks, are named in honor of one of the founding fathers of the intercultural field, Edward T. Hall, commonly referred to as Ned by his friends and family. These talks should cover a topic that is important to you or the field and should be relevant to the overall conference theme or one of the tracks. Your NED Talk should be concise, well-presented, and engaging for the audience. If you have a video of a similar talk you have presented, feel free to include the link to the video file as part of your submission. Pre-recorded virtual sessions are permitted. Plan on four 10-minute NED Talks per hour with 15-20 minutes for audience Q&A.

Duration: The entire NED Talks session is 60 minutes.

• Artistic Expression: Non-traditional presentations that primarily emphasize performance and may incorporate music, visual arts, theater, film, or physical movement to convey intended messages. The performance seeks to enhance participants’ understanding of a facet of the intercultural experience. The length of the presentation can extend to 60 minutes. Please note: When submitting a proposal for artistic expression, identify any special technical requirements you may have in the comments. We will inform you if these involve additional costs.

Duration: Artistic Expression is 60 minutes.

• Poster Sessions: Participants engage with innovative projects, research, and initiatives from diverse research concepts, including education and community engagement. Presenters will display visual summaries of their work—from case studies and pilot programs to research findings and community-based solutions—on large-format posters. Attendees can walk through the session space, explore topics at their own pace, and engage in one-on-one or small group conversations with presenters. This informal, interactive setting encourages rich dialogue, idea-sharing, and networking, allowing participants to dive deeper into specific areas of interest, ask questions, and gain practical insights they can take back to their work.

Duration: Plan on putting your poster up by 8:30 AM on your assigned day and collecting it by 5:30 PM that day.

Technology

• For Online sessions, the workshop will be hosted on Whova, the conference platform. 
• For In-Person workshops and sessions, a screen, projector, flip chart, and markers are provided.  We do not supply computers or other equipment.  Presenters should plan to bring their laptops if needed. Remember to bring your power cords and any necessary adapters.
• If you use a Mac computer, you will need to bring external adapters to accommodate HDMI and USB cables. 

Proposal Submission Deadlines  

Review Schedule
Online
Pre-Conference
Pre-Conference In-Person 
3-day Concurrent sessions

Conference Registration
All presenters whose presentations have been accepted are expected to register for the conference. SIETAR USA has no budget to compensate speakers for their presentations or registration fees. 

SIETAR USA reserves the right to remove any speaker from the program who has not confirmed their intent and/or registered for the conference. 

Questions and Inquiries

• If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us at info@sietarusa.org.
• If you are not fluent in Google Forms submissions, please let us know and we can send you a template of the CFP form in WORD.
• You can use this PDF of the CFP to plan your submission: Coming Soon!
• To begin your proposal submission, please CLICK HERE. 

Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to reviewing your proposal and seeing you at the 2025 SIETAR USA Virtual Conference!