Call for Proposals

Submission Information & Guidelines

Conference organizers are currently accepting session proposals for the First International Conference on Financially Self-Sufficient Schools on December 4-6, 2007 in Paraguay.  All session proposals must be received by email or mail by the newly extended deadline of September 30, 2007. Early submission is encouraged. 

International development practitioners, funders and professionals in education, particularly entrepreneurship and agricultural education, are encouraged to submit proposals.

The organizations whose proposals are selected will receive recognition in electronic and print marketing materials; be invited to disseminate information on their programs and projects; enjoy increased visibility and credibility within the sector; be able to participate in unique networking opportunities; and contribute directly to the growth and development of the Financially Self-Sufficient Schools field.

The conference is designed to be an interactive event that fosters learning and encourages the exchange of meaningful information and ideas.  Preference for session proposals will be given to those that incorporate methodology and activities that reflect this philosophy.  See session proposal submission instructions below.

Time Line

Submission Instructions  

Please send complete session proposals via one of the following methods:

Email (preferred):
conference@teachamantofish.org.uk

Mail:
Financially Self-Sufficient Schools Conference Manager
TeachAManToFish • 10 Tollington Park • London N4 3QX • United Kingdom

Confirmation of receipt of your submission will be sent via email.

Please provide the following information in English within your proposal submission:

1) Title of proposed session
The title should be descriptive, action-oriented and not exceed eight to ten words. If your session is selected, this title will be used in the Conference Program and conference promotional materials. Please note that the conference organizers reserve the right to modify your proposed title for clarity, consistency and impact.

2) Contact information
Please include your full name, organization, title, email address, phone, and full mailing address, as well as your Skype address if you have one.

3) Focus of the program 

Section A. Within this section please indicate the conference topic(s) to which your session applies:

Financially Self-Sufficient Schools: Rewarding Examples

• Innovative institutional models
• Strategies for generating school income
• Balancing educational and financial goals
• Re-inventing schools as social enterprises
• Role of Incentives

Transforming Curricula: Integrating Agricultural and Entrepreneurial Education

• Teaching entrepreneurship for agriculture
• Integrating entrepreneurship into traditional curricula
• Balancing classroom and practical learning
• Recruiting and training teachers
• The teacher as social entrepreneur

Reaching Out: Meeting Needs and Achieving Impact

• Linking education to real work and market situations
• Working with public and private sectors
• Impact of entrepreneurship education on employment creation
• Broadening the benefits of Financially Self-Sufficient Schools to local communities
• Building public support for the Entrepreneurial School concept

 Note: If more than on topic is relevant, please note this in your proposal.
  

Section B. Please also indicate regional focus of your topic (if any)

4) Presentation category preference
Individuals and organizations are invited to submit proposals for one of two types of presentation opportunities: 
 
   A. Panel Sessions (90 minutes each)
These sessions will be held in the main conference venue with simultaneous interpretation and will allow attendees to learn about a particular subject in depth. Presenters or panels of presenters will lead discussions and share information relevant to one of the three main topics of the conference. Selected presenters will be advised of the size, composition and format of each panel in order to assist them in planning their participation. The content of the discussions will be recorded, synthesized and presented at the end of the conference activities.

   B. Breakout Sessions   (Two consecutive 30 minute sessions)
Breakout sessions provide an opportunity for presenters to share information on, and facilitate discussion around a particular issue related to the conference with a small group of up to 20 participants. To increase the number of delegates able to participate, presenters will be asked to conduct their session in front of two different audiences in consecutive half-hour sessions. Dialogue will be recorded and synthesized for presentation at the end of the conference. 

NB: Please indicate whether you will be conducting your presentation in English or Spanish and which session format you prefer..

Please click here to view the conference program.

5) Proposal - Session description
Provide a brief description of your proposed session. If your session is selected, this description will be used in the Conference Program and conference promotional materials. It should not exceed 250 words.  The description should generate excitement about the session and should include:
     
      A. Brief description
      B. Primary learning objectives and outcomes
      C. Audience (ie: practitioners, educators, policy makers, entrepreneurs, etc)
      D. Methodology (including any hands-on activities, exercises, and hand-outs)

6) Biography and Organizational Description
Please provide a short biographical paragraph about the presenter and a description of his/her organization that we can use in the conference program and other promotional materials.  Please also include information on the proposed presenter’s specific qualifications and experience that are relevant to the conference topics, as well as any previous experience that he/she may have had in giving conferences presentations (100 word max).

7) Name of Collaborating Organization (if applicable)
While collaboration is not required, the conference organizers encourage organizations to work together on the design and execution of a session. Therefore, more than one organization can lead a session on a mutually agreeable topic. If conference organizers receive multiple submissions from individual organizations on the same or similar topics, they will discuss with the organizations the possibility of their collaborating to lead a joint session. 

Submission Guidelines 

You may submit more than one proposal, but each proposal must be prepared and submitted separately. You will receive an email confirming receipt of each proposal you submit. If your proposal is selected, you will be notified on or before Friday, September 17, 2007. At that time, please confirm your acceptance with the Conference Manager by phone, Skype, email or mail on or before September 30, 2007. Confirmation constitutes your acceptance of the terms of the Financially Self-Sufficient Schools Conference Presenter Policies, which are available for review below.

Proposals will be reviewed by Financially Self-Sufficient Schools Conference Organizers (FSSCO) and, where appropriate, subject area experts. The review will include a scoring process and the proposals with the highest scores will be selected. Teach A Man To Fish reserves the right to decline or select a proposal subject to certain modifications or conditions.

Presenter Policies: Financially Self-Sufficient Schools 2007

By submitting a proposal for the First International Conference on Financially Self-Sufficient Schools, you agree to the terms of these Presenter Policies. FSSCO reserve the right to withdraw its selection of any proposal where the presenter does not comply with these policies.

Conference Registration
All presenters will be required to register for the conference. Unfortunately no discounts can be provided.

Primary Presenters
One person must be designated as the primary presenter of each session. The primary presenter will be the primary contact for all communications regarding the proposal and the session. He/She will also be responsible for ensuring compliance with these policies, and that all other co-presenters are aware of, and comply with these policies.

Unconfirmed Presenters
Presenters of accepted proposals are asked to confirm their attendance by the September 30, 2007 or risk exclusion in conference marketing and promotional materials. Their session may also be replaced by another one. Unconfirmed presenters otherwise remain subject to these policies.

Session Duration and Scheduling
FSSCO will determine the final scheduling of all sessions. By confirming your final selection, you are agreeing to be available for at least one or more of the times designed for sessions during the conference. An effort will be made to accommodate specific scheduling requests.

Session Content
If you are the primary presenter, you assume full responsibility for the design of the session, the coordination of all session presenters (if applicable), and the session delivery.  You must also ensure that the session methodology reflects that which you specified in your proposal submission, with such refinements to the content as may be advised by Financially Self-Sufficient Schools Conference organizers. Conference organizers will be available to assist with logistical matters.

Session Materials
All materials used in your session (including PowerPoint presentation and any handouts) must be finalized and submitted electronically to the Conference Manager by Sunday, November 4, 2007. Session materials must conform to the following requirements:

• Submit documents in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint format.
• Use a 8 ½ by 11 ¾ inch (A4) page layout with single-spacing for text. Pages should be numbered at the bottom. Margins should not be less than 1-inch.
• On the front page of each document, be sure to include the title of the session, and your name(s). Include any credits on the front page, including permission to re-print copyrighted materials.

We are aiming for this conference to be paper free. We will provide conference participants with presentations and other material on a CD-Rom or USB memory stick at the conference. Final presentations will be uploaded to the conference website after the event.

Conference Orientation
You are required to participate in at least one teleconference prior to the actual conference for an orientation and discussion of logistics. The date and time of the teleconference(s) will be arranged for a mutually agreed time closer to the actual event.

At the Conference
Upon arrival at the conference, you must check in at the Conference Registration desk. Staff will be on hand to assist you with setting up the room for your presentation. All rooms used for presentations will include a laptop and overhead projector. Should you have any special requirements for equipment in your presentation, please advise the Conference Manager at least a month in advance. Presenters are free to bring their own material along for distribution during their presentation; however, any items left in the room will be removed by staff at the end of the day. Please take all materials you wish to keep with you when leaving your session. Conference organizers will not be held responsible for items missing from your session room.

Selection Criteria for All Proposals
We are seeking proposals that are engaging, participatory, insightful and informative. Sessions are selected based on the following criteria:

• A completed session proposal has been submitted, and the primary presenter has complied with all application instructions, deadlines and requirements.
• The subject of the proposed session is clear and relevant to the conference topic(s).
• Learning objectives and the plan for meeting these objectives are clearly outlined in the application.
• The proposed session includes the use of creative or collaborative techniques and formats that engage the audience and promote a participatory environment.
• The proposed session offers tips, guides and tools for the practical application of the subject matter.
• The proposed presenter(s) are qualified to present on the subject of the proposed session, as demonstrated in a description of his/her professional qualifications and the experience he/she has had presenting or facilitating sessions.
• The proposed session is educational and is not a promotion of a product, service or organization.