The World Forum on Early Care and Education is unlike any other gathering. The program is crafted to build relationships, expand perspectives, and provoke new thinking. Public status or recognition are not required to take on any role at World Forum, nor are any presenters paid for speaking. Instead we rely on individuals to step forward and share their experiences and insights. All delegates – on stage and in the audience – share an equal voice. Everyone has something to learn and something to share.
World Forum breakout sessions bring together 3-6 presenters and facilitators from different locations and backgrounds to share a 90-minute session. In a typical panel, each presenter will have 10-15 minutes to present, saving about 30 minutes for discussion. World Forum welcomes first-time presenters alongside experienced ones, and people with different levels of comfort in English, the primary language of the event. World Forum participants will value your authenticity and resilience over performance or polish. For the 2024 World Forum, you may submit a proposal to (a) join a panel of other presenters for a 90-minute session, (b) present individually in a fast-paced, 24-minute pop-up session or (c) be a panel moderator.
Guidelines for Program Participants
All contributors to the program are expected to participate in the entire World Forum from Tuesday, April 16 through Friday, April 19, 2024.
This supports our mission of promoting a global exchange of ideas and maximizes the program for everyone.
• The deadline to apply to present, moderate or perform is September 1, 2023. Please make only one submission.
• All approved program participants at the World Forum are volunteers with no financial compensation. If you will require financial aid in order to present, you must fill out an application for financial support. Decisions about program participants and financial awards will be made simultaneously by October 20, 2023.
• To confirm participation, all approved program participants must register for the 2024 World Forum by December 31, 2023. After that date, non-registrants will be replaced. The key to the success of World Forum presentations is advance preparation. All approved program participants are expected to take part in online meetings with all members of their session and to attend the Presenter Training (time and date to be determined).
Presentations will fit into one or more of the following categories:
Child Development & Well-Being
Children Impacted by Conflict/Violence/Refugee Status
Children’s Rights in Multiple Contexts
Climate, Sustainable Development and Early Childhood
Design and Nature: Environments for Children
Gender Issues: Equity; Identity & Expression; Men in ECE
Including and Supporting Children with Disabilities
Leadership and Staffing
Management, Finance and Funding
Multi-Site
Play, Care, Pedagogy and Curriculum
Policy, Advocacy and Equity
Race, Racism, Equity and Diversity
Research, Trends and Innovations
Technology and AI
Wellness for Adults
Workforce
Working with Families
Please note: World Forum spirit is created in part through sessions with presenters who come together from diverse backgrounds, experiences, cultures and regions, and we will look for this diversity when creating the program. It also makes developing your session with your co-presenters an exciting and enriching part of the event, as you create or deepen connections with them.
Opportunities for Program Participation
The presentation proposal submission deadline was September 1, 2023. If you missed the deadline and would still like to present, please submit your proposal by clicking the buttons below. You will be put on a waitlist to present if the opportunity becomes available.
Breakout Session Presenter
World Forum breakout sessions bring together 3-6 presenters and facilitators from different locations and backgrounds to share a 90-minute session. In a typical panel, each presenter will have 10-15 minutes to present, saving about 30 minutes for discussion.
Pop-Up Session Presenter
Pop -Up Sessions will take place on Thursday, April 18, 2024. A Pop-Up Session is an opportunity for you to present individually (or with one co-presenter) in a fast-paced, high-energy, 24-minute session. Often, a Pop-Up Session topic/ideas are unique and do not fit into the typical breakout session panel format. Do you have a fun, hands-on session idea? Submit your proposal for a Pop-Up.
Moderate a Session
In the 90-minute breakout sessions, the moderator’s role is responsible for tracking each presenter’s time and transitioning from one presenter to the next with thoughtful remarks pertaining to the session/presentation topic. The moderator will facilitate the 30-minute discussion time at the end of the breakout session. The moderator will also help to keep the panel on task as they plan and prepare in the months prior to the World Forum event.