Call for Presentations

Have a story, strategy, or success to share?

Submit a presentation proposal and help shape a dynamic CAUCE conference that celebrates innovation, collaboration, and impact in continuing education.

CAUCE is dedicated to advancing the success of its members and deepening engagement across professional, adult, and diverse learning communities. As leaders in continuing education, we are called to be innovative and entrepreneurial while embracing creative problem-solving, adaptability, and collaboration as we respond to the evolving needs of learners, industry, and the communities we serve.

We invite proposals that showcase bold ideas, promising practices, and meaningful outcomes in continuing education. If your work helps improve careers, enrich lives, or strengthen communities, locally or beyond, we want to learn from you.

Thank you for helping the Program Planning Committee create a dynamic, relevant, and impactful learning experience for CAUCE 2027.

The Call for Presentations closes at 11:59 pm EST on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.

What are we looking for?

Our aim for this conference is to create an inclusive and accessible event that encourages lifelong learning and professional growth. We welcome presenters of all ethnicities, genders, ages, abilities, religions, and sexual orientations to voluntarily share any relevant information about your lived experience within the presentation proposal.

We are looking for submissions that provide engaging opportunities for learning and knowledge exchange from and for people working in all areas and with all levels of experience in CE. Make sure you focus on the “how” not just “what” so that actual experiences and lessons learned can be shared. To put it another way, we are looking for presentations where the focus is on strategic, tactical, and operational details where participants will leave your session with new ideas that they can take back to their workplace. What take-away can you provide the audience (e.g., a model, tactic, template, detailed steps, principles, etc.)?

Theme

Sustainable Futures Coast to Coast: Transformative Impacts of Lifelong Learning

From coast to coast, continuing education plays a vital role in shaping education and sustainable futures in which learning empowers individuals, strengthens communities, supports the long-term vitality of our universities, and fosters responsible stewardship of our world.

As we look ahead, these responsibilities call us to act with care and intention. Guided by the University of Victoria’s priorities of People, Place, and Planet, we recognize that the choices we make today will help shape our collective future. As the teaching of Sʔeyəɫenxʷ | S,ÁEȽA’NW̱ | When things are in harmony reminds us, all life is interconnected, and both individual and community choices have far-reaching impacts.

At this year’s conference, we invite you to explore how to innovate responsibly, collaborate meaningfully, and lead with purpose to shape a future where continuing education is a catalyst for harmony and sustainability.

Join us at CAUCE 2027 as we connect and chart a course toward sustainable futures that honour our shared responsibility to possibilities, people, places, and the planet.

Streams

To get your creative juices flowing, we have included some ideas for your consideration within each of the five conference streams described below. Keep in mind that you are not limited to these suggestions and ideas.

If your proposal is related to Research and Scholarship in Continuing Education or you are presenting your CAUCE-sponsored research project, please select the stream that best fits your presentation topic.

Indigenizing and Decolonizing Higher Education through Lifelong Learning

This stream will explore how Continuing education (CE) units can play a meaningful role in advancing Indigenization and decolonization in higher education. Grounded in respect toward Indigenous ways of knowing and Indigenous peoples’ relationships to the land across Canada, presentations in this stream will delve into meaningful collaborations with Indigenous communities and explore how programming and learning environments can be shaped to advance Truth and Reconciliation. Proposal ideas may include (but are not limited to): 

• Indigenous-led or co-designed programs
• Building relationships with local Indigenous communities
• Culturally grounded supports and capacity-building
• Advancing reconciliation and decolonization practices and policies in CE
• Land- and place-based learning
• Indigenous ways of knowing as a pedagogical approach

Equity by Design: Student-Centred Service and Innovations in CE

Learners arrive with diverse needs, experiences, identities, and responsibilities. Student-centred services and programming are essential to creating equitable learning environments in CE. This stream will focus on ways in which CE units design systems that reduce barriers and support success at every stage of the learner journey. Presentations in this stream may cover innovative service models, policies, learning design approaches and technologies that enhance flexibility, inclusion, and accessibility for all learners. Proposal ideas may include (but are not limited to): 

• Designing inclusive courses with Universal Design of Learning principles
• Innovating learning technologies to support learner experiences
• Improving access to higher education for equity-deserving learners
• Practicing holistic advising and flexible program delivery

Leading for People, Place, and Planet: Sustainable CE Operations

This stream will focus on how CE units can operate and grow sustainably, and how leadership can engage in the process responsibly. Presentations in this stream may include engaging in and supporting change management, innovative strategies to optimize the unit operation for long-term effectiveness, ethical governance of AI, and addressing environmental responsibilities. Proposal ideas may include (but are not limited to):

• Creating resilient CE ecosystems through partnerships and leadership
• Improving financial sustainability
• Fostering a culture of adaptability and responsiveness
• Structuring hybrid and other flexible work models
• Navigating policy and governance challenges related to AI
• Structuring operations that support accessibility, equity, and community impact.
• Climate action planning for CE

Highlighting CE Excellence

Clear, compelling storytelling is essential for demonstrating the value and impact of CE. This stream will focus on marketing and other strategies that help CE leaders, staff, and partners communicate impact, strengthen visibility, and build shared understanding of CE’s role in advancing lifelong learning.  Presentations in this stream may highlight ways to articulate CE’s invaluable contributions to the community and workforce development through data, narratives, and evidence-informed insights. Proposal ideas may include (but are not limited to): 

• Combining quantitative evidence with human-centred stories
• Authentic storytelling of individuals, communities, and institutions
• Sharing alumni and employer testimonials to promote programming
• Building trust and influence through effective communications
• Measuring CE programs impact through use of data
• Marketing strategies to deliver compelling stories
• Highlighting CE Excellence in a rapidly evolving global climate

Work-Integrated Futures: Programming for Employment Impact

Programming for strong workforce development is crucial to the mission of Continuing Education, especially as learners navigate rapidly shifting labour markets and evolving skill demands. This stream will explore approaches to designing programs that connect learners to industry needs, foster career mobility, and strengthen community and economic resilience to support learners’ future career success. Presentations in this stream may address integrating labour market insights in planning and operations, fostering effective partnerships, and curriculum models to deliver measurable, equitable employment impact. Proposal ideas may include (but are not limited to):

• Designing micro-credentials that align with labor market needs
• Navigating policy and regulatory requirements in developing a program
• Highlighting success in supporting learners’ career growth
• Showcasing partnership models that effectively support industry skill needs
• Sharing the success stories innovative curriculum design for strong employment outcome

Selection criteria

The selection committee is particularly interested in submissions that reflect the diversity of the CAUCE membership. 

• Relevance to conference theme and stream.
• Useable takeaways for the audience.
• Relevance and appeal to the intended conference audience and CAUCE constituents.
• Clarity and completeness of the proposal (what you will be presenting and how).
• The degree to which the presentation is based on responsive and innovative practices.
• Currency and uniqueness of the topic and information.
• The degree to which the presentation topic and key points reflect the diversity of both learners and Continuing Education professionals.
• The degree to which the presentation is engaging and participatory for an in-person audience

All sessions should share your responsive and innovative practices related to the conference theme “Sustainable Futures Coast to Coast: Transformative Impacts of Lifelong Learning” and focus on at least one of the five streams. We encourage collaboration among institutions and disciplines.

How to Submit

Please read the following information prior to submitting your proposal.

Proposals may include individual or small-group presentations, panel discussions, or workshops presented face-to-face. All sessions should share specific responsive and innovative practices, be related to the conference theme “Sustainable Futures Coast to Coast: Transformative Impacts of Lifelong Learning” and focus on at least one of the five streams. Sessions may be 45 or 60 minutes.

The submission form will ask you to indicate your presentation length and language for the conference:

• Individual or small-group presentations (45 or 60 minutes)
• Panel discussions (60 minutes)
• Interactive workshops (60 minutes)
• English or French presentation (available in either 45- or 60-minute sessions)

All presenters must attend the conference in person, as concurrent session rooms are not equipped for remote participation. This ensures the best possible experience for our delegates.

Before submitting your proposal, ensure that you have obtained authorization from your supervisor, including budget approval, to attend the conference in Victoria, BC if your proposal is accepted.

Important notes

• Ensure that your proposal and biography (max 150 words) are both clear, complete, and correct, and describe your intended audience. Ensure your session description is suitable for the programming committee to use in the conference program. Consider the need to appeal not only to the adjudicators but also to CAUCE conference attendees.
• Incomplete submissions will be returned for revision or not reviewed.
• You will be notified if your proposal is accepted the week of January 11, 2027.
• Once accepted, confirm your presentation and in-person attendance with the secretariat before January 27, 2027.
• You must register and pay your conference fees by March 22, 2027, to officially confirm your presentation date and time. Early-bird registration will open on or before February 22, 2027. Registration fees typically range from approximately $750 – $900 plus GST for members.
• You agree that, following your session, your presentation slides will be published on the conference app in PDF format.

Accountability Statement for Presentations

We are excited to invite you to contribute to our conference and want to ensure that your presentation delivers the value and insights promised in your proposal. To maintain the highest standards and provide a rewarding experience for all attendees, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Content Alignment: Your presentation should align with the proposal submitted. The use of generative AI to refine your proposal is acceptable, but the final presentation should accurately reflect the approved description.
• Consistency: If there are any changes to your presentation after acceptance, you must resubmit the updated version for review. This ensures that all descriptions remain accurate, and attendees receive the content they expect.
• Accuracy: Ensure that your presentation content matches the description provided in your proposal. This helps maintain the credibility and reliability of our conference program.

By following these guidelines, we can collectively ensure a consistent, engaging, and valuable experience for all participants. Thank you for your commitment to excellence!