Social development in times of crisis: Challenges and responses

The University of Gävle in partnership with the Municipality of Gävle will host the 23rd Biennial Conference of the International Consortium for Social Development on the theme “Social Development in time of crisis: Challenges and responses." from 23-25 August 2023.

The aim and purpose of the conference is to bring scholars and representatives of key stakeholders from all around the world together in a global forum to facilitate collective critical discussion, networking, knowledge creation and dissemination of theoretical insights and innovative methods/ practices in responding to contemporary social development challenges.

The conference will have three tracks- Planet in Crisis, Health and Wellbeing, and Peace and Stability – with one track per day. It will have three keynote speakers (one per track), two additional plenary sessions, and 2-3 workshops. There will be one pre-conference PhD workshop with invited national and international experts.

The estimation is that there will be about 300 participants and 100 (oral & poster) presentations in the conference. The conference will also include 3 field study visits to local social work/social development organisations.

The targeted audience for the conference consists of national and international scholars and representatives of stakeholders operating within the field of social development.

Participants will be recruited, and information will be disseminated through well-established institutional, local, national, regional, and international organisations.

The conference organisation is being managed by a Local Organising Committee (LOC), and also involves contributions from an International Scientific Committee (ISC) and an International Advisory Committee (IAC).

The ISC is responsible for scientific tasks such as abstract selection (double-blinded), as well as organisation and chairing of sessions of the conference.