Call for submissions: Lightning Talks for NFQ Conference

On Friday 17 November 2023, QQI will host a 1-day conference to mark the 20th anniversary of the Irish National Framework of Qualifications. The conference will feature a small number of lightning talk presentations in the programme. These short presentations offer delegates the opportunity to showcase examples of strategies, policy, institutional practice or projects linked to the themes below. We welcome submissions from the community and voluntary education, further education and training, and higher education sectors, and agencies working with these sectors.

Lightning talk topics

We are inviting submissions from delegates for lightning talks linked to the themes below. If you would like to share your practice and innovations with partners in any of the following areas, we would like to hear from you.

Communication & guidance to support stakeholders understanding of NFQ (to include learners, employers, staff)
ATP & RPL as fundamental infrastructure of the Framework
Development of microcredentials in the NFQ
Integrating the NFQ within employment, workforce planning and professions
Building Trust in Qualifications Systems (including academic integrity)
Value of inclusion of awards in the Framework & responsibilities of awarding bodies
Innovative qualifications development
Embedding NFQ into internal processes for programme & award development
Other

We are also collecting submissions that are relevant to the NFQ, but not explicit in the themes above. If you would like to make a submission on the NFQ that doesn’t relate to one of the topics, please provide details under ‘Other’ in the form submission.

Lightning talks

Lightning talks will be for a duration of 5 minutes maximum. The conference rate will be waived for the lead presenter of each lightning talk selected.

Guidance in preparing a proposal

The following are required for your submission form entry:

Lead author contact details: The lead author is also the presenter. The details must be added correctly at the time of submission.
Title: Should be no more than 80 characters. If the proposal is accepted, this title will appear in the conference programme.
Keywords: Supply up to 5 keywords which will help delegates understand the content if accepted. Should be no more than 60 characters including spaces
Abstract: Maximum 1400 characters including spaces. This should give a succinct description of the proposal, outlining the aims and objectives of the contribution.
Key Messages: Maximum of 350 characters including spaces. Provide three key messages that delegates could potentially take from the presentation.
References: any references cited in the presentation.

Submitting a proposal

All proposals must be submitted via this link no later than Friday 22 September 2023.

There is no limit to the number of proposals which you can submit but each proposal must be made separately and clearly linked to the themes identified with the lead author and their contact details included.

Review of proposals

The submissions will be reviewed against the following criteria:

Is the submission relevant to the aims of the conference?
Is the submission clearly linked to the themes identified/appropriate to the conference theme?
Is the submission of potential interest to delegates?
Do the key words reflect the submission?

Proposals will be reviewed and chosen participants contacted via email by Friday 29 September.

In the event that more suitable proposals are received that can fit on the programme, QQI may instead invite authors to present their lightening talks in webinar format to be scheduled at a later date.

The author(s) of accepted proposals must register to attend the conference when registration opens. The fee will be waived the lead presenter of each lightening talk. We look forward to receiving your submissions – best of luck!

If you have any queries, please contact us at conference@qqi.ie