International Students Overcoming War (ISOW) Call for papers

On March 30th-April 1st 2023, ISOW is hosting a conference called Equipping Student Leaders as Partners for Sustainable Humanitarian Action on the Waterloo campus of Wilfrid Laurier University. We are exploring the question: at a time of an ever-increasing number of humanitarian crises leading to forced displacement throughout the world. How can universities partner with students and equip them to be catalysts for sustainable humanitarian action throughout the world?

ISOW has partnered with the UNHCR to present a three-day conference that will explore this question through a diverse discussion of the need for university and student partnership for humanitarian action. By bringing together researchers, university staff/faculty and students, and representatives from NGOs and multilateral organizations from around the world, we will facilitate the exchange of ideas around topics of increasing importance in today’s context: humanitarianism, student activism, and sustainable impact.

Over three days, we will feature moderated conversations, workshops building towards forming action plans for students to implement at their universities, plenary sessions for context, a photo exhibit on international examples of student leadership, and more. Workshops are central to the format of this conference as they are replacing traditional research presentations and panels to allow for a more interactive, collaborative, and personal process of learning. Our goal is to shape a conference that can inspire and empower students to push universities to take steps for humanitarian action through equipping them with the tools needed to form personalized action plans.

This conference is free, although travel and accommodation costs must be covered by the delegates or ideally by the organization/institution you are representing. We would like to invite the participation of a staff/faculty member and 1-2 students that show an interest in the topics listed above.

Learn more about the conference.

Click here to register.