Conferences are highly valued for the opportunities they provide for broadening horizons, networking, research communication and positioning in the research field, but there are limited resources for travelling and participation at conferences. Thus, conference attendance should be well prepared for and seen as a strategic investment both for the individual researcher and for the organization one represents.

Research shows that academics often have insufficient skills on how to make their conference attendance prolific and a high-value investment for their research career. This skill is rarely getting sufficient attention in PhD education but seems to be more dependent on individual supervisors’ skills in this field. As academics constantly need to present research, develop and maintain networks, the skill of how to make the most of conference attendance is to be considered a work-integrated learning (WIL) task in academic settings.

This is especially important in the digital era, where in-person meetings are powerful for building stronger connections with people across the world. Therefore, what is known in theory on this topic, should be applied in practice and thereafter reflected upon.

Previous research highlights the following key aspects on how to make your conference attendance prolific:

• Prepare before the conference
  • Review the conference schedule and identify conference speakers and attendants you would like to meet
  • Contact those you want to meet and arrange meet-ups prior to going to the conference
  • Make informed career networking decisions
• Attend the conference with authenticity
  • Presence should be active and beneficial for all
  • Attend events that you have signed up for (somebody may have chosen to attend only to meet you)
  • Interact, ask relevant questions and be an active participant in discussions
  • Take the first step, be accessible and open to meet new people
  • Social events often provide relaxed opportunities for fruitful dialogues and networks
• Plan for after the conference
  • Reflect on own participation, conference value and set goals
  • Deliver on the carry-forward experiences from the conferences and follow-up contacts
  • Be observant of publication and collaboration opportunities
  • Make ripple effects of your conference attendance: Share valuable conference insights and networks with colleagues and collaborators in your organization

In all three phases social media and conference apps can be useful for highlighting your own active attendance, spreading your research, increasing your network, likewise, and support interaction. We encourage you to take the theory into practice, reflect on your learning conference journey to become prolific in the art of conference attendance.

As WIL’25, Norway, is approaching, ensure that your conference attendance is more than a post on your CV and that you are an active part in shaping the future of WIL!

Anna Karin Olsson
Associate Professor in Business Administration
University West, Sweden

Kristina Areskoug Josefsson
Professor in Work-integrated Learning
Faculty of Health Sciences
University West, Sweden

Further reading

Beasley, H. K., Actkins, K. E. V., Marshall, A. G., Garza-Lopez, E., Wanjalla, C., Scudese, E., Kirabo, A., Liu, K., & Hinton, A. (2024). A quick guide to networking for scientists. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 45(1), 1-4.

Hume, R., Weir, T., Priest, J., Krivickas, S., Riggs, K., MacKinnon, A., … & Able, A. (2024). Are we Developing Career-Readiness Skills in Australian Science Graduates?. International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 32(5).