Proposals | Cewil Conference

CEWIL Call for Proposals 2026

CEWIL Canada invites you to share your expertise, innovations, and insights at our 2026 national conference in Ottawa, where we explore the transformative journey from work-integrated learning to meaningful careers. This year’s theme, Pathways to Partnerships celebrates the many routes learners take to develop skills, build connections, and shape their futures.

Dates to Remember

Call for proposals opens: September 18, 2025

Proposal Submission Deadline: November 15, 2025

Evaluation of Proposals: November 15 – November 30, 2025

Notification of Acceptance: December 15, 2025

Deadline to accept invitation to present at the conference: January 31, 2026

Conference Themes

We welcome proposals that highlight promising practices, emerging trends, and bold ideas that prepare students for a rapidly evolving world of work. Whether you focus on employer partnerships, innovative program models, equity and inclusion, technology in WIL, or sector-specific success stories, we want to hear how your work creates pathways that expand opportunity and impact.

We invite proposals from programs, practitioners, scholars, students, industry and community partners, and employers to share experiences and expertise. Pathways to Partnerships celebrates the diverse voices that shape WIL. We also aim to strengthen French language capacity in WIL and welcome sessions delivered in French. Presenters from industry and community, as well as students are especially encouraged to share their perspectives.

As part of CEWIL Canada’s commitment to access, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, we invite proposals that show how these values are advanced in WIL. Proposals should reflect how these principles are embedded in your work, fostering an environment where all participants feel welcome and valued.

Proposals should be in one of the following streams. If more than one stream is applicable, please indicate which one is the best fit.

Conference Streams

WIL in Action: Industry and Community Voices

For and by partners: This stream highlights the vital role of employers, community organizations, and cross-sector partners in delivering and shaping quality WIL. Share case studies, partnership models, co-designed projects, and innovative approaches to supervision, mentorship, or community-engaged learning.
Suggested for: Anyone engaged in hosting, mentoring, or collaborating with WIL students — including employers, community organizations, industry associations, and practitioners who work directly with external partners.

Making it Count: Data, Impact & Research in WIL

Evidence-based insights: This stream is for researchers, institutional analysts, and educators using data to improve, validate, and scale WIL. From learning outcomes to labour market impact, proposals may highlight frameworks, case studies, tools, or methods for measuring what matters.
Suggested for: Anyone using evidence to guide decisions - from researchers and data analysts to program leaders, policy developers, and practitioners measuring WIL’s outcomes and impact.

Wicked WIL & Wise Practices

Creative, messy, necessary: Some WIL challenges are complex but not unsolvable. This stream invites bold ideas and practical experiments from those testing new approaches, confronting systemic issues, or adapting to change. We welcome sessions on failures, pivots, provocations, and the wisdom gained along the way.
Suggested for: Anyone with lessons learned from tackling challenges, whether you’re an innovator, administrator, community partner, student, or collaborator finding new ways forward.

AI, Automation, and the Future of Work

What’s next for WIL? Explore how artificial intelligence, automation, and emerging technologies are changing the skills landscape, and how WIL programs are adapting. Topics may include ethical use of AI, employer demand for digital skills, experiential edtech, and future-focused WIL pedagogy.
Suggested for: Those exploring how technology shapes learning and work - educators, researchers, employers, edtech innovators, or anyone piloting new approaches in digital skills development.

Faculty Frontlines: Leading WIL from the Classroom

Teaching meets practice: Faculty and those supporting classroom-based WIL are crucial to embedding WIL in curricula and mentoring students through real-world experiences. Share strategies for course design, supervision, reflective practice, assessment, and partnership building, especially in disciplines where WIL is still emerging.
Suggested for: Educators at all levels, instructional designers, teaching and learning centre staff, and academic leaders who integrate WIL into courses or programs.

Decolonizing and Indigenizing WIL

Land, language, and relational learning. This stream centres Indigenous knowledge systems, land-based learning, and approaches to WIL grounded in relationship, reciprocity, and resistance to colonial frameworks. Proposals may include program design, community partnerships, student supports, or institutional change processes.
Suggested for: Indigenous educators, Elders, and knowledge keepers, as well as allies, practitioners, and community partners engaged in work that honours Indigenous knowledge systems and supports decolonizing practices.

Presentation Formats

To support diverse voices, learning styles, and storytelling approaches, CEWIL 2026 welcomes proposals in a variety of session formats. Whether you're sharing a bold idea, a collaborative project, or hard-earned wisdom, there's space for you here.

Workshop

45 or 60 minutes
Hands-on and participant-driven. Workshops should actively engage attendees in skill-building, dialogue, or co-creation. Ideal for deep dives into tools, training modules, frameworks, discussing case studies or applied learning practices.

Panel Discussion

45 or 60 minutes
Multi-voice conversations offering insight from different sectors, regions, or lived experiences. Panels should include 2–4 speakers plus a moderator and foster audience interaction.

Research Presentation

15-20 minutes
Data- and evidence-based presentations that share research findings, evaluations, or institutional reports related to WIL. Should include clear methodology, outcomes, and actionable takeaways. It should be 10-15-minute presentation and 5-minute Q&A

Story Circles or Shared Reflections

45 minutes
Inspired by Indigenous oral traditions, Story Circles offer a space for sharing lived experience, listening with care, and building community through story. Centered on relationality and respect, these sessions invite reflection on a variety of themes.

Idea Sparks

Have a big idea, a bold question, or a project in progress? Idea Sparks is the perfect format for emerging work, innovative practices, and fresh perspectives in work-integrated learning. Presenters give a 2–3 minute visual snapshot of their idea or project (slide, poster or other visual), then stay for informal conversations as delegates circulate and connect. Presenters can use this format to share quick wins, lessons learned, fresh perspectives, or ideas that spark conversation and debate. Multiple presenters will be grouped by topic into a 45-60 minute block.

Submit Proposal

Conference Proposal Q&A

Have questions about the call for proposals or presenting at CEWIL 2026? Join our upcoming Q&A session to get the answers and guidance you need to submit a strong proposal. Click here to lean more.

Additional Information

Only electronic submissions will be accepted via our online submission portal. Proposals will be accepted September 18, 2025 – November 15, 2025. Late submissions may not be accepted.
If you would like to see the full call for presentations and/or prepare the answers in advance, see a pdf of the proposal questions here.
If you are submitting proposals for several sessions, you must complete one form for each session. *Please note: in an effort to amplify many voices, individuals can normally be a presenter, co-presenter or panelist in a maximum of two sessions.

All speakers must agree to the Terms of Reference for Conference Speakers to be considered as a conference speaker.

Proposal Review and Selection Process:

Review Committee: All proposals will be reviewed by at least two (2) reviewers.

Proposals will be scored without speaker identifying information, to promote fairness and objectivity.  To assist with this, please limit the use of your organization’s and speaker’s identifying information in the body of your proposal.

Specifically, reviewers will be scoring proposals based on the following criteria:

Interactivity and accessibility to a diverse audience

Relevance to field of Work-Integrated Learning

Clear description of outcomes of the session for attendees

Innovative or novel concept or initiative that would be of interest to WIL audience

Alignment with CEWIL 2026 themes and streams

Contribution to access, inclusion, diversity, equity, and belonging in the field of WIL

Download a copy of the submission form.

Terms of Reference for Conference Speakers:

Should your submission be accepted, you, and each of your co-presenters, agree to the following:

Speaker Terms: One speaker must be identified as the Speaker Contact for the proposal and all session speakers must be included as co-presenters. If there is a change in the speaker line-up or session description, it is the Speaker Contact’s responsibility to inform CEWIL Canada as soon as possible by emailing the program committee chair. Conference presenters can normally participate in a maximum of two sessions. This is to ensure a diverse cross-representation of speakers over the course of the conference. Any additional speakers that are already speaking at two other sessions, cannot be added as a co-presenter.
Register and Pay the Registration Fee: Upon your acceptance, you will be required to register by March 15, 2026 at a special discounted speaker registration rate. No other speaker compensation will be provided. Any co-presenters that have not registered for the conference will not be listed in the final conference program. CEWIL Canada’s registration rates and cancellation policy are available on the registration home page.
Presentation Content Terms: The selling of goods and/or services during sessions is NOT PERMITTED at CEWIL 2026. In cases where we receive multiple complaints about selling in a session, you risk your proposal being declined in future years. If you wish to promote your goods and/or services, materials or products during the conference, please contact the sponsorship committee about partnership, advertising and exhibitor opportunities.
Accessibility of Session Requirements: It is our expectation that all conference sessions are accessible to delegates attending CEWIL 2026. All speakers must use the microphone provided in the rooms, use digital tools during their sessions to ensure delegates can follow presentations, and adhere to the guidelines on accessibility that will be provided to all speakers ahead of the conference.
Notification of Acceptance: All Speaker Contacts will be notified regarding the status of their application for the CEWIL 2025 conference by December 15,2026. Speakers who have been accepted will be required to confirm their acceptance by replying to the invitation email by the deadline included in that email. Waitlisted speakers will be updated as spots become available. If you are no longer able to present at any point, please send notification to the program committee chair as soon as possible so that others on the wait list can be notified and have the chance to prepare.

Download a copy of the terms of reference.