FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can I submit more than one abstract?

Yes! You may apply to speak at the Symposium on different topics. Simply submit one abstract form per your unique abstract.

Can I apply to present at the Symposium ?

Yes! Click "Present at Conference" and complete the abstract form.

I do not want to present, can I just attend the Symposium and be in a research environment?

Yes! Please complete the "Attend the Conference" form to secure a place at the event.

I submitted an abstract to present, should I also apply to attend?

Yes! Please complete the "Attend the Conference" form to secure a place at the event.

I do not want to present, can I make a poster?

Yes! Posters are welcome! Please complete the "Present at Conference" form and indicate "Poster".

I am a recent Alumni, can I present?

Yes! Alumni are very welcome to present.

I want to present with a group, can we present together?

Yes! Please submit one abstract with, all names, please see the form has space for multiple presenters.

Do I need to write a paper or give a powerpoint presentation?

The conference format is presentations to the group, followed by “world café style” discussions. This means that you have tenminutes to share your research, as per your abstract. The next speaker then has their ten minutes, and the third speaker has ten minutes, and so on. The remaining 10-20 minutes will be open to discussion at round tables.

Does the abstract I submit need to be identical to the abstract that appears on the poster or I give in my talk?

Do try to keep them in the same spirit, minor changes are always expected!

 I haven’t done any research, so can I still participate?

Yes! You can come along and participate as an audience member, hear the presentations, and join in the questions and discussions. You can volunteer to assist the event at the welcome and registration desk, and with the behind the scenes organising.

Finally we want to stretch your understanding of research. If you have synthesised information for a programme, or initiative for example, that is research! This forms an important first step, the literature review. So you can participate as a speaker based on your practice experience.

Where can I read more about student volunteering?

Here are some great papers to read:

  • Holdsworth, C., & Quinn, J. (2010). Student volunteering in English higher education. Studies in Higher Education, 35(1), 113-127.
  • Holdsworth, C. (2010). Why volunteer? Understanding motivations for student volunteering. British Journal of Educational Studies, 58(4), 421-437.
  • Holdsworth, C., & Quinn, J. (2012). The epistemological challenge of higher education student volunteering:“reproductive” or “deconstructive” volunteering?. Antipode, 44(2), 386-405.
  • Holdsworth, C. (2010). Student Volunteers: A national profile. Keele University: Volunteering England.
  • Holdsworth, C., & Brewis, G. (2014). Volunteering, choice and control: a case study of higher education student volunteering. Journal of Youth Studies, 17(2), 204-219.
  • Tansey, L. (2012). Volunteering within Higher Education—A Literature Exploration and Case Study. In Higher Education and Civic Engagement (pp. 125-138). Palgrave Macmillan US.
  • Tansey, L., & Gonzalez-Perez, M. A. (2006). University Platform and Student Volunteering: Harnessing Student Civic Engagement Through Volunteering. European Access Network Conference. National University of Ireland, Galway.
  •  Tansey, L., & Gallo, M. StudentVolunteer. ie: Students, systems and stakeholders for social change.
  • McIlrath, L. , & Tansey, L. (2013). Student Engagement through Volunteering. In Dunne, E. (Ed.). The student engagement handbook: Practice in higher education. Emerald Group Publishing. Chapter 13: 221-236.
  • Tansey, L., & Gallo, M. (2018). From homework club to social justice: Critical reflections on student volunteering through the examination of a school–university partnership. Research for All2(1), 76-92.
  • MacNeela, P., & Gannon, N. (2014). Process and positive development: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of university student volunteering. Journal of Adolescent Research29(3), 407-436.