The Oxford Global Scholars Symposium 2026 (OXGSS 2026) invites paper submissions that critically examine the changing roles of universities and tertiary education systems within broader social, economic, and technological contexts. The symposium adopts a systems perspective, foregrounding the interdependencies between academic institutions, vocational and applied education, innovation ecosystems, and governance frameworks.

Submissions are invited under the following four thematic panel tracks. Contributions may be theoretical, empirical, comparative, or reflective in orientation, and should engage explicitly with the systemic implications of their analysis.

 

 

Panel Track 1
Reframing Academic Preeminence

What Kind of Knowledge Still Belongs to the University?

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This track explores how academic preeminence is being redefined in increasingly plural and distributed knowledge landscapes. Papers may examine the evolving missions of research-intensive universities, the boundaries of academic autonomy, and the relationship between disciplinary depth, interdisciplinarity, and societal engagement.

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Indicative topics include, but are not limited to:

• The transformation of research-intensive universities in global knowledge systems

• Academic autonomy, public value, and accountability

• Disciplinary knowledge versus problem-oriented and interdisciplinary research

• Global academic standards and local or national responsibilities

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Panel Track 2
Vocational Agility and Skills Systems

Who Designs Skills in a Volatile World?

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This track focuses on skills formation, vocational and applied education, and lifelong learning within dynamic labour markets. Submissions should consider how universities interact with industry, technical education providers, and policy frameworks in the design, recognition, and governance of skills.

 

Indicative topics include:

• Universities and skills ecosystems: roles, limits, and complementarities

• Curriculum innovation and credentialisation in applied and vocational education

• Lifelong learning, reskilling, and social mobility

• Tensions between employability, capability, and academic purpose

 

 

Panel Track 3
Embedded Innovation in Tertiary Education

Where Does Innovation Actually Happen Now?

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This track examines innovation as an institutional and systemic capacity rather than a peripheral activity. Papers may analyse how innovation is embedded in teaching, research, governance, and external partnerships, and how universities navigate innovation agendas without instrumentalising academic knowledge.

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Indicative topics include:

• Innovation cultures within universities and tertiary institutions

• Entrepreneurial education and institutional strategy

• University–industry–government relations and innovation ecosystems

• Risks and limits of innovation-driven higher education reform

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Submission Guidance

OXGSS 2026 welcomes submissions from scholars, policymakers, institutional leaders, and practitioners engaged in research, policy development, or system-level practice related to tertiary education.

Abstracts should:

• Be 300–500 words in length

• Clearly state the paper’s research question or central argument

• Indicate the theoretical framework, methodology, or analytical approach

• Explicitly address the system-level implications of the work

• Identify the most relevant panel track

Submissions that bridge multiple tracks or offer comparative and cross-sector perspectives are particularly encouraged.

All submissions will undergo academic review. Accepted papers will be allocated to themed panels designed to maximise critical dialogue and interdisciplinary exchange.

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Please email to paper@oxgss.com