Call for papers – AEBR X CB School
Call for conference papers and travel grants to take part in the X Annual AEBR Cross-Border School at Dundalk (Co. Louth, Ireland) on 28 October 2026
The Association of European Border Regions, the Radboud University of Nijmegen (the Netherlands) and the University of Victoria (British Columbia, Canada) present the X AEBR Cross-Border School
Led with Borders in Globalization_Lab (BIG_Lab) at the University of Victoria (British Columbia, Canada), the AEBR Annual Cross-Border School is an international one-day research and policy/praxis conference held as part of the AEBR Annual Events.
WHEN: 9.00 – 17.30, Wednesday, 28 October 2026
WHERE: Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) Campus, Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland
The 2026 AEBR Annual Events, jointly hosted by AEBR and the East Border Region Committee, will take place in the East Border Region of Ireland/Northern Ireland across various locations in Counties Monaghan, Armagh and Louth.
Closing date for submissions is 26 June
Call for Submissions and Information for Prospective Participants
1. Call for Conference Papers and Information on Themes:
Participants from all global regions are invited to submit proposals for original research or policy papers that are aligned with any or all of the themes of this year’s X AEBR Cross-Border School, which are set out below. We welcome proposals for papers from decision- and policy-makers (i.e. senior public officials and elected decision-makers worldwide), managers of cross-border structures and cross-border development practitioners, and researchers/academics, including postgraduate research students, postdoctoral and early-career academics.
The AEBR Cross-Border School in 2026 will focus on the following themes:
- The role of border regions in fostering sustainability, well-being and human security, with a particular focus on the Water, Energy, and Food Ecosystems (WEFE) connected to a cross-border context;
- Border regions as enhanced trust environments, with a particular focus on deliberative democracy and citizen engagement, peace-building, post-conflict development cooperation, and intercultural competency;
- Cross-border cooperation governance in the context of sustainable development/transitions, optimised competitiveness, placemaking in transboundary functional areas, and multilateralism – taking account of the continuum that characterises modes of cross-border cooperation, ranging from coordination through cooperation and collaboration towards cross-border forms of fiscal solidarity.
Within these themes, we also particularly welcome submissions that focus on the roles of women, minorities, and young people; climate action; and European (EU) Enlargement.
Certificates of participation can be provided to all speakers and attendees to document CPD.
Format of the X AEBR Cross-Border School:
- A series of moderated panel presentations and interactive discussions between academics and practitioners
- Presentation and co-presentation plus poster sessions
- Participant networking opportunities
2. Travel Grants: Information and Eligibility
- The Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), together with the University of Victoria (Canada), offers a small number of discretionary travel grants for original research or policy papers to be presented at the AEBR Cross-Border School (CBS) on 28 October 2026 in Dundalk, Ireland.
- The purpose of the travel grant is to remove obstacles to participation when an applicant lacks other funding to cover their travel.
- Travel grants can help cover the costs of travel, accommodation for three nights, meals, and participation in the AEBR Cross-Border School and the AEBR Annual Conference.
- Participants wishing to be considered for a travel grant should clearly indicate this in the covering email for their submission to the call for proposals and indicate where they would be travelling from.
Eligibility:
- Places at the conference and travel grants are open to (1) decision/policy makers (i.e. senior officials and elected decision-makers worldwide) and managers of cross-border structures/cross-border practitioners, as well as to (2) researchers/academics (including postgraduate research students, postdoctoral and early career academics).
How to apply:
- The basis for selection is an email application with 3 required attachments, including an extended abstract of your proposed paper or presentation (between 1000 and 2000 words) covering methodology, preliminary results and conclusion.
- All submissions must follow the format clearly set out in the submission checklist (below).
SUBMISSION CHECKLIST: The application should include the following (mandatory components):
1. In order for your proposal to be considered, you are asked to submit a covering email and 3 attachments.
2. Covering email (required): it should have the title of ‘Abstract Submission- CB School 2026’.
3. The body of your covering email should contain your Name, Surname, place of employment, title of your proposed paper/presentation, and a maximum 100-word summary of your proposal.
4. If you wish to be considered for a travel grant, you should also please indicate this in the covering email.
5. There are three attachments requested to be submitted with your covering email:
– An extended abstract of the paper you are proposing (no more than 1000-2000 words) covering methodology, preliminary results and conclusion
– Your curriculum vitae
– A maximum one-page letter of motivation explaining how you will benefit from this opportunity
Please send your application, including all elements of the checklist above, to info@aebr.eu with a covering email no later than 26 June 2026.
Further details:
Grant recipients will be personally responsible for all travel and accommodation arrangements and expenditure, including visas, travel, insurance, home and personal commitments.
Contact: If you have any queries regarding eligibility or submission, please contact
info@aebr.eu with the reference ‘X Border School 2026’ in the title of your email.
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