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Call for Academic Papers

Call for Papers

The 5th World Scout Education Congress is inviting abstracts and papers that share research, innovative practices, lessons learned, case studies, and new ideas from across the Scout Movement and beyond.
 
Whether you’re a researcher, educator, youth leader, practitioner, volunteer, or representative of a National Scout Organization, this is an opportunity to contribute to a global conversation on the future of non-formal education.
 
Selected submissions will help inform Congress discussions, learning experiences, and knowledge resources, bringing together evidence, practical experience, and new perspectives from around the world.
What are we looking for?
We welcome contributions that explore one or more of the following questions:
  • How can Scouting education remain relevant, inclusive, innovative, safe, and impactful for young people in a rapidly changing world?
  • What educational practices, solutions, frameworks, and innovations can strengthen the capacity of National Scout Organizations to deliver high-quality non-formal education?
  • How can youth leadership, safeguarding, innovation, volunteer engagement, and systems transformation shape the future of Scouting education?
  • How can research, data, practice, and lived experience inform the future direction of Scouting education?
Submissions may relate to a wide range of topics, including:
  • Scouting education and youth development
  • Youth leadership and participation
  • Safeguarding and safe learning environments
  • Innovation in education
  • Volunteers in Scouting and adult learning
  • Inclusion, diversity, equity, and belonging
  • Sustainability, climate, and community action
  • Peacebuilding, dialogue, and global citizenship
  • Policy, governance, and systems transformation
We are accepting the following:
  • Academic Research Papers: Empirical, theoretical, or conceptual papers grounded in research, literature, methodology, analysis, and evidence. 
  • Practice Papers or Case Studies: Papers documenting applied programmes, field-based experiences, NSO initiatives, educational models, or lessons learned from practice. 
  • Reflection Papers: Opportunity for emerging researchers and practitioners to share ideas and reflections grounded in lived experience, community engagement, and professional practice.
  • Policy and Systems Papers: Papers addressing governance, educational strategy, institutional change, partnerships, programme quality, or systems transformation.
  • Innovation Briefs: Papers presenting emerging ideas, prototypes, digital solutions, practical frameworks, or new models that can inform Scouting education.

Submission Process

Submit a 250-word abstract in English or in French by 12 July 2026 outlining your topic, its relevance to Scouting education, your approach, and the key insights or contribution you hope to share. Authors may also submit a completed paper at the same time.
 
All submissions will be reviewed by the Congress Papers Review Team. Authors of accepted abstracts will be invited to submit a full paper by 12 September 2026, unless a full paper has already been provided.
 
Selected contributions may be featured as part of the Congress programme through research dialogues, workshops, panel discussions, innovation showcases, and other learning experiences. Papers may also be considered for Congress proceedings, publications, thematic reports, and other World Scouting knowledge resources.
Submit your abstracts and papers!

Submission FAQs

What information do I need to provide when submitting an abstract?

Each submission should include the author’s name, affiliation, country or National Scout Organization (where applicable), email address, paper title, thematic area, paper type, three to five keywords, and a short biography (150 words max). 

Authors should also indicate whether they wish their paper to be considered for presentation only or for possible inclusion in Congress proceedings and post-Congress publications.

Yes. For papers with multiple authors, please confirm that all co-authors have agreed to the submission.
If a paper is still being developed collaboratively, all contributing authors should be identified at the time of submission.
Absolutely. Young people are encouraged to submit papers, either independently or in collaboration with others. Contributions may include research findings, case studies, project experiences, innovative practices, or personal and collective reflections that offer valuable insights and perspectives on the event’s themes.
 
  • Academic Research papers:  4,000 to 6,000 words 
  • Practice papers, case studies, reflections, policy and systems papers, or innovation briefs: 2,000 to 4,000 words
Papers should be submitted in .doc or .docx format and follow APA 7th edition formatting and citation guidelines.
 
Papers should include a title; author name (s) and affiliation; contact information; an abstract; keywords; an introduction or background; the purpose or research question; relevant literature or context, where appropriate; the methodology or approach; findings or lessons learned; a discussion; implications for Scouting education; a conclusion; and references. 
 
To ensure submissions are accessible to an international audience, please use clear and concise language.

Yes. Papers should be written in 12-point Times New Roman, double-spaced, with one-inch margins. If your paper includes tables, figures, images, or graphics, these should be clearly labelled and properly cited. Authors must hold the necessary copyright or have written permission to use any images, graphics, audio, video, or other media included in the submission.

All abstracts and papers will be reviewed by the Papers Review Team.
 
Submissions will be assessed based on:
  • Relevance to the Congress themes and thematic areas
  • Originality and significance
  • Quality of research or practice-based reflection
  • Practical value for Scouting education and National Scout Organizations
  • Clarity and accessibility
  • Contribution to youth development and non-formal education
  • Potential contribution to Congress outcomes and knowledge resources
No. Acceptance of an abstract does not automatically guarantee inclusion in the Congress programme or publication. Final decisions will be based on the quality and relevance of submissions, available programme space, and alignment with the overall Congress design.
Accepted submissions may be featured in a variety of formats, including:
  • Research dialogues
  • Panel discussions
  • Workshops
  • Elevator pitch sessions
  • Debate contributions
  • Poster sessions
  • Innovation showcases
The final presentation format will be determined by the Congress Programme Team.
Yes. Selected papers may be considered for inclusion in Congress proceedings, edited publications, thematic reports, and other World Scouting knowledge and learning resources.
 
Authors will be asked to provide consent for publication and, where applicable, for audio, visual, or digital recording of presentations.
By submitting a paper, authors confirm that their work is original, properly attributed, and does not infringe copyright or intellectual property rights.
 
Research involving young people, volunteers, communities, or organisational data should follow appropriate ethical standards, including informed consent, confidentiality, and respect for participants. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all references, quotations, images, tables, graphics, and other media are properly cited and used with permission where required.
Yes, but any use of AI tools must be clearly disclosed.
 
AI tools may be used to support activities such as language editing, translation, rephrasing, formatting, or organising ideas. However, they must not be used to fabricate data, generate unsupported claims, create fictitious references, or replace the author’s own judgement, analysis, or ethical responsibility.
 
Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and attribution of all submitted work. Any significant use of AI tools should be acknowledged within the paper.
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