Home » Events » Annual Conference 2026 » Submit a Proposal
The Cooperative Education & Internship Association (CEIA) is thrilled to open the call for session proposals for our 2026 National Conference in Alexandria, Virginia, from April 12-14, 2026. This is your opportunity to contribute to the advancement of work-integrated learning (WIL) by sharing your current best practices, innovative solutions, and emerging trends that are shaping meaningful and transformative experiences now and in the future.
Presenting at the premier national conference for work-integrated learning offers invaluable benefits:
We encourage proposals from all professionals involved in coordinating, instructing, hosting, supervising, funding, or researching work-integrated programs such as co-ops, internships, and apprenticeships. This includes faculty and staff from colleges and universities, employer representatives, professional associations, community organizations, and government agencies. Whether you are a seasoned expert or new to the field with fresh insights on launching new programs, your unique experience is valued and sought!
The 2026 conference marks a significant milestone! For the first time, all submitted session content must be aligned with at least one of the 10 Professional Competencies for Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Practitioners. Introduced by CEIA in 2025, this national framework guides and shapes excellence in our profession.
The 10 Professional Competencies for WIL Practitioners:
For more detailed information on these competencies, please visit the work-integrated learning competencies page of our website.
Beyond aligning with the professional competencies, we are particularly interested in topics that address the most pressing issues and innovative practices in WIL. Below are examples of specific areas of interest:
Mark these key dates on your calendar!
To ensure a smooth and successful submission process, please follow these steps:
Submission Deadline: Friday, October 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM.
NOTE: Completed PDF’s will not be accepted. Submissions are only accepted through the online form.
When submitting your proposal, you will be asked to provide the following essential information:
Example: To share best practices from facilitating a dual-modality (virtual and in-person) job shadowing program at a large public institution over six years.
Example: Attendees will know the value of: (1) Working with campus legal and environmental health & safety departments to create program policies, procedures, and forms. (2) Leveraging campus learning management and survey platforms to automate program processes. (3) Diversifying job shadow sites to align with student majors/career goals. (4) Collaborating with Alumni Associations/Foundations to engage alumni and donors.
Example: To address barriers to student engagement in high-impact experiential learning and grow career readiness competencies. Employers value the brand-building opportunity without costly campus travel, and alumni appreciate giving back through mentorship. Presenters will share policies, procedures, marketing, and lessons learned, enabling attendees to consider replicating a structured, matched job shadow program at their own institutions.
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