DSA annual conferences
The Development Studies Association is the UK's learned society and professional body for academic teaching and research, policy and practice in the field of international development.
The DSA holds a conference each year, at which the development studies community gathers. Follow the links below to learn more.
- 2019: Opening up Development
- 2018: Global inequalities
- 2017: Sustainability interrogated: societies, growth, and social justice
- 2016: Politics in Development
- 2015: Global Development as Relationship: Dependence, Interdependence or Divide?
- 2014: DSA Annual Conference
- 2013: DSA Annual Conference
- 2012: The New Development Cooperation Landscape
- 2011: Rethinking Development in an Age of Scarcity and Uncertainty
- 2010: Development Paths: Values, Ethics and Morality
- 2009: Current Crises and New Opportunities
DSA Conference 2020 & 2022 - call for proposals
Applications are invited to host the annual DSA conference in June 2020 or June 2022
The DSA conference is the key annual event for international development in the UK. Our practice is to hold a 2-3 day conference each June, attracting c. 300-500 delegates. Recognising the conference's value in signalling an area of scholarship, applications are invited both from established centres and from universities which have more recently entered the international development field.
- Provide an opportunity for all higher education institutions in the UK with teaching and research interests in Development Studies to offer to host the Annual Conference.
- Ensure a transparent process for conference venue/host selection in accordance with DSA's principles of fairness and fostering an active and dynamic membership.
- Ensure that Annual Conferences are: intellectually stimulating; provide an opportunity for the DSA membership to exchange ideas and deepen its relationships as an academic community; hold the formal annual meeting of the membership; and, are financially viable (for DSA and for host institutions).
- Ensure that conferences rotate in a way that ensures diversity of geographical locations across the UK and that permits small, medium and large institutions (or groups of institutions) to serve as hosts.
The Council proposes that while the conference be convened/hosted by the host institution, it be organised by the DSA administration team at NomadIT. This reduces the admin burden on the academics/institution hosting and fronting the event, while bringing continuity of process/practice for DSA members. NomadIT will take care of the finances, website, communication, panel/paper proposals, registrations and payments, and other admin tasks, working closely with the conference hosts to ensure their envisaged event is delivered, and that the financial outcome is not detrimental to either hosts or DSA.
To get a sense of the format/model and approximate timetable of the annual event visit the 2016-2019 conference sub-sites on the DSA website.
- Names of the hosting institution(s) and conference convenors.
- Past experience of conference organisation.
- Proposed dates.
- Proposed theme (with short outline of rationale, less than 500 words).
- Detail the venue(s) you envisage using for keynotes and the ~14 parallel breakout rooms and any costs levied by the venue that won't be waived.
- Details of a large central space (or other) you envisage using for the reception desks, catering distribution and book exhibit.
- Details of venues proposed for the opening drinks reception and the conference dinner, with any costs.
- Details of the accommodation you propose using, with prices.
- Details of approximate catering prices (tea breaks & lunches, drinks reception, dinner - either formal or buffet/alternative
- Details of any practitioner-focussed workshops, or other non-paper/panel events you propose making part of the programme.
- Confirmation that you've made a preliminary booking for the conference venue and accommodation by the submission date.
The DSA Council (or a sub-committee thereof) will evaluate the bids and either select one bid, or request the two best bids to attend the next Council Meeting to present their proposals to Council.
Once Council has selected the successful bids, subject to final negotiations, the selected host institution will implement the conference together with NomadIT and report regularly to Council on progress.
Applications should be emailed to: membershipadmin(at)devstud.org.uk
The deadline for applications is May 1 2019.
Selection will be made by DSA council and applicants notified in June 2019.
