Click here to download a copy of the Workshop and Application Guidelines, 2009-10 (pdf)

Click here to download a copy of the ASSA Workshop Program Application Form (rtf)

THE WORKSHOP PROGRAM is a principal component in the Academy’s promotion of research in the social sciences. Academy workshops are small gatherings of those working at the cutting edge of social science research. It is expected that a diversity of perspectives will be presented from the variety of social science disciplines, and that the emphasis on inviting participants will be on active researchers in the field.

ITS PURPOSE is to advance knowledge through in-depth discussion, and to promote its application by the dissemination of workshop outcomes through publication. It is expected that the ideas and research discussed at the workshop will be rigorously debated and that they are open to scrutiny by scholars within the social sciences and others. The Academy expects:

• Papers presented at workshops be readily available in the public domain, with appropriate attribution of opinion by the participants.
• Encouragement, where appropriate, be given to participants to develop policy statements. Such statements are intended to act as ‘signposts’ rather than detailed prescriptions; advice that suggests appropriate strategies grounded on sound social science research or advice that furthers the debate on issues that may require policy intervention or consideration by Government. Such advice is also seen to promote awareness-raising concerning social research and the potential benefits for decision makers in policy development.

THE WORKSHOP FORMAT is interactive, normally held over two days, and includes a dinner at which further exchange and discussion can continue informally. Inter-disciplinarity is expected and the topics and participants should reflect this. It is expected that participants will include:

• Established researchers and leaders in their areas of expertise.
• Early career scholars who are challenging and/or adding to debate.

Participation is not limited to academics, and where appropriate, representatives from Government, community and private sector who are experts on the issues should be invited. This is particularly relevant if there are policy and practice components to a workshop program.

Numbers are limited to around 15 to 20 participants to allow for meaningful exchange of ideas and extensive in-depth debate. All participants must attend the entire workshop program. Please note that workshops are not public forums.

Additional funding will be sought by the Academy for applications meeting the necessary requirements for the Australian National Commission for UNESCO Grant Scheme.

Workshops can have one or several Convenors, one of which must be a Fellow of the Academy. The responsibilities of the convenors include:

• Drafting of the proposal and management of the workshop.
• Provision of a report to the Committee within 2 months of the workshop. The report should be 1500-2000 words, and will be published in the Academy newsletter Dialogue and posted on the Academy website.
• Where proposals have a strong policy focus, policy statements may be requested as a condition of funding. This could be pursued by asking participants, where appropriate, to extract out of their presentation a one or two page summary that provides brief and direct policy advice or raises critical policy issues, or for Convenors to provide a 1-2 page policy advice summary in addition to the workshop report. The format is flexible and can be further discussed with the Project Manager.
• Submission of a budget acquittal at the conclusion of workshop (sample budget aquittal).

The Academy expects dissemination of the WORKSHOP OUTCOMES, through at least one of the following:

• Publication via a recognised publishing house.
• Chapter/s in a publication, monograph or journal.
• Published paper/s in professional journals.
• On a university, institution or Academy website.
• Media article (newspaper, radio or TV).

Convenors are expected to liaise with the Academy regarding publishing progress. Download a copy of the Guidelines for Workshop Publications.

Queries relating to this program should be addressed to:

Sarah Tynan
Project Manager -Workshops
Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
GPO Box 1956, Canberra ACT 2601
| ph: +61 2 6249 1788 | fax: +61 2 6247 4335 |
email: