Module: Conference /Academic Event Organisation

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Conference /Academic Event Organisation
Module Code	HUM1021 (ITS: TP601)
Faculty	Theology, Philosophy & Music	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module engages doctoral students with the process of designing, planning, organising and executing an academic event in their discipline. It includes a review of existing conferences, types of presentation, call for papers, peer-review, programming, grants and budgeting, keynote, chairs, promotion and programme publication. The module builds towards the organisation of a real-world event - the shape and scale of which can range from an in-house seminar / symposium to a full-scale public conference.

Learning Outcomes

1. Plan an effective academic event in their discipline.
2. engage with the range of processes that are part of a scholarly / research event - including call for papers, peer review, coherent programming of papers etc.
3. Display leadership in managing the logistics of organising a scholarly event, including financial, spatial, scheduling, human resource.
4. engage with the appropriate mechanisms for publicising a scholarly event in their discipline, including (where pertinent), call for papers, abstracts, speaker biographies profiles etc.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Assignment Completion	18	Attend a conference and complete a structured report
Workshop	12	Workshop on aspects of Conference and Seminar organisation as outlined in indicative content
Tutorial	3	Up date meetings with supervisor
Workplace application	80	Designing and executing an academic event
Report	12	Final report on academic event
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11542	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale		Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category		Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Patricia Flynn	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Report(s)	Structured report on a conference attended and proposal for own event.	25%	n/a
Project	Planning and delivering an appropriate academic event.	50%	n/a
Report(s)	Event report including (where appropriate), published programme, financial report and critical evaluation within student's professional development plan	25%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction to academic conference
Critical analysis and evaluation of conference attended. Skills to review conference structure and organisation, including review of usual conventions and elements of an academic conference.

Event (Conference/Symposium/Seminar) Design
Event concept, discipline specific themes, coherency of overall idea, innovative and creative design, purpose and structure.

Programming
Learning about call for papers, conference subthemes and strands, peer review, effective programming, key note speaker, scheduling, conference elements including parallel sessions, round table, chairs, format of published programme etc.

Peer Review
Learning about the operation of a peer review system, principles and practice

Working as part of the organising committee
Learning about roles and responsibilities, effective communication, documentation, task management, co-ordination, liaising with speakers, venues and relevant organisations, logistical issues and financial management.

Review and Evaluate
Framework for review of event, and preparation of final report.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Amy E. Zelmer, A. C. Lynn Zelmer: 1991, Organising academic conferences, Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia, Campbelltown, N.S.W., 0-908557-18-3

Articles:
None

Other Resources

Website: University College London, Organising Academic Conferences, London, IOE, UCL, http://20bedfordway.com/news/organising-academic-conferences/
website: Bernstein, M., 2008, Reviewing Conference Papers, http://www.markbernstein.org/elements/Reviewing.pdf
website: British Association of American Studies, 2017, How to Write a Great Conference Review, http://www.baas.ac.uk/usso/blog-3/top-tips-how-to-write-a-great-conference-review/
online booklet: IUA, 2015, Irish Universities' PhD Graduate Statement, Dublin, http://www.iua.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IUA-PhD-Graduate-Skills-Statement-20141.pdf (See pages 6, 8 & 9 in particular)
online booklet: DCU, Enrich-Framework, Dublin, http://www.dcu.ie/graduate_research/Enrich-Framework.shtml-1
Websource: Researchers Professional Development, https://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers-professional-development/why-focus-on-professional-development