5th European Conference for Student Affairs and Services

2023 is the European Year of Skills. The last number of years has seen huge changes in the ways in which all of us work and live. Student Affairs Professionals have had to adapt quickly to the rapidly changing landscape of support, advising and guiding. Student needs have also changed. In particular, their expectations of how support is delivered in a hybrid environment is something our field has had to keep pace with. In addition, the world of work is constantly evolving. Student Affairs Professionals must be aware of the attributes employers expect from graduates, particularly in the area of soft skills. Research shows that skills such as teamwork, networking, and presentation skills are considered vital by employers today (European Commission, 2020). 

 The conference planning committee invites you to submit conference programme proposals that will allow attendees to: 

• Describe the changing skills needs of employers and the impact on Student Affairs Professionals

• Present innovative approaches to supporting students in a hybrid environment

• Describe best practice in technological approaches to supporting students

• Consider future skills requirements - what next for our graduates?

• Provide resources and tools to appropriately support students in gaining necessary skills 

• Identify collaborative models between career services, employers and Student Affairs

As Higher Education institutions and Study Abroad Programmes encourage the participation and contributions of students from diverse and historically underrepresented backgrounds, how can Student Affairs Professionals support this population in navigating challenges, making sure their voices are heard, and achieving their goals? What tools shall we use to facilitate the transition of the students in pivotal phases of their lives, such as adjusting to college life, as in the case of first-year students, or to a different culture, as in the case of study abroad experiences?

The conference planning committee invites you to submit conference programme proposals that will allow attendees to: 

• Define the needs of the first-year and study-abroad student population from underrepresented backgrounds (ethnic and racial minority students, LGBTQIA+ students, first-generation students, students with increased financial needs, and students with disabilities) and identify their relationship with student success.

• Provide resources and tools to appropriately support students in navigating transitional phases while helping them embrace new challenges and grow through them.

• Define successful practices and programmes that promote the acquisition of new skills and foster students’ resilience.

• Explore possibilities to facilitate reflections and encourage students to build, understand and express their identities in a new context.

• Describe best practices and collaborative models to create orientation programmes.

Institutions of higher education around the world are experiencing a wave of incoming students who have experienced trauma and loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as economic, societal, and political events. As professionals in Higher Education, how do we equip ourselves to support these students? 

The conference planning committee invites you to submit conference programme proposals that will allow attendees to: 

• Unpack holistic student wellbeing and its relationship with student success in Higher Education.

• Create opportunities to define current health triggers (pandemic, economic loss) and its impact on the community. 

• Define current mental health conditions (e.g. addiction, depression, substance abuse, etc.) which represent challenges to student success and wellbeing.

• Identify collaborative models between service practitioners (qualified mental health professionals) on campus and external supports.

• Identify successful practices and programmes that support student resilience, work/study-life balance, healthy habits, community engagement, responsible use of social media and online presence or activity.

Student Affairs Professionals play a very important role in how HEIs respond to student demographic changes, changing student needs, student crises, and strategic planning. It is important that staff undergo continuous professional development so that they can remain abreast of the latest theories and developments around supporting students. Professional development opportunities are also an important motivator for staff when opportunities for horizontal progression may not always be available. 

The conference planning committee invites you to submit conference programme proposals that will allow attendees to: 

• Learn from peers on how to continue to support students and their success in environments where resources may be limited, student needs are ever-changing, and student demands are increasing 

• Define current and new educational challenges which may represent challenges to the role of Student Affairs Professionals 

• Identify best practice in crisis management

• Understand change management and its importance to supporting student success

• Learn about self-care in the role of Student Affairs and how upskilling can support that

• Learn about career development and setting career goals for professional development in Student Affairs

• Share examples of best practice in professional development for Student Affairs Professionals