Call for expressions of interest to host and co-organise the ATGENDER Autumn Conference on Teaching, Education and Pedagogy 2027

Every year (except for a break in 2026), ATGENDER organises  a conference together with a partner institution. The conference theme rotates every year: one large European Feminist Research Conference focused on pressing current issues, one Spring/Autumn conference dedicated to activism and policymaking, and one Spring/Autumn conference centred on teaching, education and pedagogy. The conferences represent one of the major opportunities for feminist, queer and gender studies scholars, activists, artists and policy makers to gather and exchange experiences. 

We are excited to announce the opportunity to co-organise the next Spring/Autumn conference for 2027 focused on teaching, education and pedagogy (exact theme and title to be decided with the host).

If your organisation would be interested in co-hosting the next conference to be held in Autumn 2027, please email your expression of interest with your answers to the questions below in an attached Word document with the subject line ‘Interest for hosting ATGENDER 2027 Conference’ to info@atgender.eu no later than Monday 29 June 2026. 

We are happy to answer any questions and queries you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact us at: info@atgender.eu

About the conference

Each ATGENDER conference is organised differently, depending on the agreement with the conference host. This year we are also exploring how to streamline the submission and registration process with the use of a conference management tool. However, some general guidance which may be useful for your application: 

• ATGENDER Spring/Autumn conferences usually involve 150 – 200 conference participants (largely in-person; hybrid participation to be discussed and decided with the host)
• A conference organising committee is convened with members from the host institution and the ATGENDER board. In line with ATGENDER’s Code of Ethics, the organising committee work collaboratively to:
  • Write the call for papers, which usually involves several separate strands
  • Invite and convene strand coordinators from the host, ATGENDER board, and ATGENDER membership. Strand coordinators draft  their strand’s call for papers; review abstracts; convene and schedule panels; and chair panels of their strands
  • Oversee and manage the registration process
  • Organise practical aspects of the conference, including venue and room hire, refreshments, communication and material printing
  • Make the conference an accessible and inclusive environment
• ATGENDER is a membership based network that works through voluntary labor and does not receive institutional funding. ATGENDER and the host institution jointly develop and agree on the conference budget together. The costs of the conference will be covered mostly by the registration fees, and possibly (although not indispensably) with additional funding sources that the host institution can channel. 
• The host venue is expected to provide rooms in good condition, including adequate ventilation, reliable internet connectivity and equipment to enable participation for online attendees, and full accessibility for participants with disabilities. Where applicable, the venue should also allow the adaptation of gendered restrooms into all-gender inclusive facilities.

Timeline

While this preliminary timeline may be altered, the following steps should act as a guideline for the collaboration between ATGENDER and your organisation. The process for selecting a host institution and delivering the conference will follow the indicative timeline below:

May 2026 – Call for bids launched 

29 June 2026 – Deadline for bid submissions

By 20 July 2026 – Host institution selected and notified

Sep–Oct 2026 – Initial planning, roles, budget, and venue confirmed

Nov–Dec 2026 – Development of the theme and conference strands, release of the call for paper, keynote invitations

Apr–May 2027 – Submissions and review process

June–Aug 2027 – Programme finalised, registration

September/October (TBD) 2027 – Conference takes place

Questions for your expression of interest 

1. Describe your institution/network/organisation (its mission, activities, accessibility policies, etc.) and also why you would like to host the next Autumn Conference. 
2. How many staff and faculty members working at your institution can assist with the organisation of the conference?
3. What experience do you have in conference organising? Please list the most important conferences you have organised and the lessons you learnt from these experiences.
4. Is there any funding available to you through your institution or elsewhere to support conference costs? Note: conference costs are usually covered by the conference registration fees; funding is not a requirement nor expectation of hosts.
5. What facilities do you have at your disposal for organising the conference (rooms, auditoriums, open space)? Can they be provided without costs? (Please note that our Spring/Autumn conferences usually attract 150-200 participants)
6. Is your Centre/Institution part of other local, national and international networks? Could you imagine involving them in the activities for the conference? And, if yes, how (availability of spaces, organisation, etc.)? If you have any partner organisation/network confirmed, please include their declaration of intent.
7. How would you make the conference attractive for students and Early Career scholars?
8. How do you plan to make the conference inclusive and accessible for participants with disabilities, neurodiversities and access requirements, and scholars and students from underrepresented and/or marginalised groups? What resources do you have and with which costs? Would you be willing to cooperate with ATGENDER to find solutions to access barriers, including the possibility of childcare services/facilities, online/hybrid participation, and create gender-neutral spaces at the conference venue? Please also use this space to provide information on the accessibility of campus facilities.
9. ATGENDER is a global community and visa procedures and costs present significant barriers to conference participation. In your experience of events and conferences, how are the visa procedures and costs in your country? Would you be willing to cooperate with ATGENDER, and what resources do you have, to find solutions to visa barriers, including guidance and support for colleagues subjected to visa processes (for example, letters confirming participants’ acceptance to the conference and support for their participation)?
10. Given that the conference focus is on teaching, education, and pedagogy, are you proposing a theme within this framework? If so, please provide details.

Please email your expression of interest with your answers to the questions below in an attached Word document with the subject line ‘Interest for hosting ATGENDER 2027 Conference’ to info@atgender.eu no later than Monday 29 June 2026.