The 75th NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo was held May 30–June 2 in Washington, DC. Together, we learned and connected with peers and experts dedicated to "Inspiring an Inclusive Future." Thank you for being a part of the most diverse, comprehensive, and exciting international education conference and exposition!
Join us at the NAFSA 2024 Annual Conference & Expo in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The 2023 Annual Conference Committee invites you to submit a poster proposal for the NAFSA 2023 Annual Conference & Expo in Washington, D.C. Explore fourteen poster fair themes across all knowledge communities and connect to the annual conference theme. You may find that your topic fits within several themes. In these cases, we encourage you to submit your proposal to the theme that best reflects your intended audience. We invite practitioners, researchers, and graduate students from all types of institutions, as well as partners that support international education, to imagine, create, and design your posters.
The NAFSA poster fair at the annual conference is a learning experience and noncommercial. If you are interested in sharing a service, consider submitting a case study about it in partnership with an educational institution.
Poster Submission Guidelines
You will be asked to submit:
Title, abstract, learning objectives, and poster theme (see below)
All presenter biographical information (if you have a copresenter, they will be asked to log in, so prepare accordingly)
Key content takeaways
For the International Education Research theme, please be prepared to submit your hypothesis, research methods, and thesis.
Please note that we do not expect posters to include a visual for their poster at this time.
Proposal Template
Before you submit, draft a proposal in our session and workshop templates. These are great tools to get a headstart with your colleagues before you actually start your submission.
The deadline has passed.
Apply for a NAFSA Volunteer Opportunity
Submit your application to be a Poster Fair Organizer! This position is responsible for helping select the posters for NAFSA 2023 and supporting the professional development of presenters.
The deadline has passed.
Poster Proposal Selection Guidelines
After the NAFSA 2023 poster proposal submission deadline, Poster Fair Organizers (PFOs), members of the Annual Conference Committee (ACC), and additional peer reviewers will review proposals. The Poster Chair, in coordination with the PFOs for each fair, will make final selections by March 2023.
Each poster proposal will be rated on a scale of 1-5 for:
Posters in this fair feature strategies and tactics for advocating the value of international education, at a local, state, national, or international policy level; within their institution; or in local communities. This fair showcases models for collaboration and shared value partnerships between educational institutions and community organizations, and/or with government entities—such as state consortia—to enhance the impact of international education. Proposals about experiences in direct action with government and/or on their campus are encouraged.
This poster fair highlights model practices for the use of analyzed data in determining outcomes and making decisions for programs. Poster topics include assessing student learning, program, and service outcomes; cutting-edge assessment processes and instruments; and developing assessment and evaluation in support of internationalization. All knowledge communities are encouraged to present and showcase how they design evaluations to assess their programs.
This poster fair highlights processes, resources, and model practices that campuses and international offices use when faced with a crisis or emergency. Examples of crises may include natural disasters, abrupt changes to visa issuance and regulations based on political changes, war and political upheaval, hospitalization or death of a student or scholar, mental health emergencies, reactions to pandemics and related health issues, and arrest. Posters present campuswide communication strategies and operational processes in place to address specific crises, as well as key resources.
Global language programs are integral to international education initiatives. Posters in this fair showcase best practices and innovations in program models, effective instructional delivery, and extracurricular activities tied to programmatic goals. Presentations that utilize global language programs as models to enhance other aspects of international education are encouraged. Note: This theme was formerly “Innovative and Sustainable Practices in English Programs”.
Posters showcase model practices and success stories of teaching and learning in a global context. Posters in this theme include examples of curriculum development, co-curricular activities, workforce and career development, working with faculty, and developing opportunities to effectively engage with those from diverse backgrounds. Possible topics include global self-awareness, cultural diversity, personal and social responsibility, understandings of global systems, and applications of knowledge to contemporary global contexts. This theme encourages proposals in both on-site and virtual global learning opportunities.
Posters highlight innovative diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, support services, and resources to assist colleges and universities interested in expanding participation and equitable opportunities for international students, scholars, and study abroad participants. These resources and opportunities can support underrepresented and nontraditional populations, focusing on sexual orientation, disability, religion, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Proposals about supporting athletes, veterans, graduate students, first generation students, and academic disciplines such as science and engineering are also welcome. Proposals across all knowledge communities are encouraged.
Posters exhibit programs from faculty and staff, campus organizations, and local communities that emphasize supporting international students and scholars and their families, addressing culture shock, creating welcoming campuses, and encouraging interaction between all students.
Posters in this theme feature the most recent innovative and in-depth qualitative and quantitative research in the field of international education. They highlight important findings, perspectives, and academic inquiries in order to stimulate collaboration and provide tangible professional resources and educational understanding. Submissions from graduate students, scholar-practitioners, and researchers from all knowledge communities are encouraged. Please note that proposals are expected to include a hypothesis and/or research questions, as well as research methods as a part of their proposal.
Posters explore best practices in strategic planning and implementation for campus and virtual internationalization. Featured posters integrate all aspects of internationalization through strategic planning, explorations of funding opportunities, and critical consideration of practices of internationalization and application of theoretical models to the process of internationalization. Posters also showcase ways to cooperate and create sustainable international partnerships and virtual exchange to further internationalization through innovative curriculum designs, such as COIL, as well as dual, joint, and “2+2” programs. Senior international officers are encouraged to submit posters about model practices for these programs.
Posters in this fair showcase the expanding portfolio of education abroad programming, including learning through study abroad as well as work, internships, service-learning, and research abroad for both credit and noncredit opportunities. Campus-based, cocurricular, and virtual initiatives that institutions and organizations have implemented to stimulate, promote, and integrate learning at various stages of the education abroad experience are also highlighted. Proposals on regulatory aspects of education abroad are encouraged, especially model practices in reporting for VAWA, Clery, and Title IX.
This poster fair showcases various international enrollment management strategies, sponsored student programs, plans, models, and measurement tools, including alumni programs used by institutions to successfully recruit, enroll, and retain international students.
This poster fair highlights model practices in international student and scholar services, including health and wellness for international students, scholars, and educators; international spouses and family support; J-1 programming; Title IX responses; employment and career services; support for postdocs; campus programming for international students; exchange visitor and employment-based sponsorship policies; and office staffing and organization.
This poster fair demonstrates model practices and innovations in orientation, transition, and retention programming for all students. Posters can showcase predeparture orientations, on-site orientations, and re-entry models. For international students, highlight approaches to creating welcoming environments in host communities; integrating newly arrived students with the local community; changing student and family needs; developing parent and family programs; supporting cross-cultural communication; and evolving leadership development for students and scholars, including orientation mentor programs. Addressing culture shock, global citizenship and their impact on their host community could also be focal points.
Posters exhibit current issues, research, and trends related to the higher education policies and systems of various countries and regions, including new laws affecting higher education, new educational programs and initiatives, mobility trends, and scholarships for all students, both incoming and outgoing.
NAFSA Proposal Submission Policies
All session, workshop, and poster presenters are required to adhere to NAFSA’s terms and conditions.