The “Impact of Higher Education Institutions on Regional Economies” research initiative is holding a major international conference in Edinburgh on the 16 and 17 November 2010. Topics for discussion include the role and purpose of higher education, how to measure its impact, higher education institutions (HEIs) and regional competitiveness, influence of students and graduates on regions, knowledge exchange between HEIs and business, HEIs and community engagement, HEIs and public engagement.

Up to 10 sponsored places are available for early career researchers who are interested in the social and economic role of higher education, and in communicating this to a wider audience. The conference will give new researchers the opportunity to participate in the conference and present their own research in a poster session. There will be a prize for the best poster presentation. A key criterion in the judging of the poster presentations will be the ability to communicate the research to a non-specialist audience.

The session will be judged by an international panel of leading academics and senior higher education figures.Each sponsored place will cover the costs of participating in the conference, including two nights’ accommodation at the conference venue, all conference participation costs, the conference dinner, and a contribution of up to £200 towards travel expenses.

Applications should be submitted by 6th September 2010, and should include (1) a summary (no more than 300 words) of research interests and profile, (2) an abstract (no more than 300 words) of the proposed poster, (3) a CV. Applications should be submitted by email to laura.wardrop@strath.ac.uk. Successful applicants will be notified by 20th September and the final poster is to be submitted by 1st November 2010 in electronic form. A template will be provided and the organisers will undertake the printing of the final posters.

Further details are available on the initiative’s website: http://www.impact-hei.ac.uk/Events/2010ImpactInitiativeEvents/NovemberCo...