A Call for Sessions invites potential organizers to propose entire program blocks such as symposia, panels, or workshops—including the topic, format, participating speakers, and didactic concept. It complements or replaces the traditional Call for Papers for individual contributions.
Also known as: Call for Symposia, Call for Panels
Typical for: Large professional congresses with thematic tracks
Submitted content: Complete session concept including speakers
What is a Call for Sessions?
A Call for Sessions is an invitation to research groups, associations, or program committees to propose entire thematic blocks for a congress—not just individual presentations, but complete sessions featuring multiple presentations and speakers, a moderator, and an overarching theme. It is typically used in addition to a Call for Papers, and sometimes as a replacement.
What is submitted?
- Session title and thematic focus (e.g., "Artificial Intelligence in Pathology")
- Format and duration: Symposium, panel, workshop, roundtable; 60, 90, or 120 minutes
- List of proposed speakers with presentation titles and, if applicable, individual abstracts
- Didactic concept: Learning objectives, target audience, level of interaction
- Justification of relevance to the congress theme
- Organizer/Chair with role and responsibilities
Distinction from the Call for Papers
| Aspect | Call for Papers | Call for Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Unit of submission | Individual presentation | Complete session |
| Submitted by | Individual speakers | Session organizers / program committees |
| Review focus | Content of a single contribution | Coherence of the concept + speaker mix |
| Selection criteria | Originality, quality | Program fit, diversity, thematic balance |
Reviewing and selection
Sessions are usually not evaluated through a traditional peer-review process, but are selected by the program committee based on programmatic criteria: How well does the session fit the congress theme? Is the speaker lineup balanced? Are relevant perspectives covered? Often, follow-up questions and adjustments occur before final acceptance.
Best practices
- Provide clear submission deadlines and templates for session concepts
- Explicitly state diversity criteria (gender, career stage, region, institution)
- Define the maximum number of speakers per session
- Assign clear responsibilities for session organizers
- Communicate acceptances early so speakers can plan their travel
Call for Sessions in Converia
Converia also supports complex submission formats: entire sessions with all contribution details, learning objectives, and formats can be submitted. Reviews and the acceptance process are handled within the same platform as the Call for Papers.
From session concept to final program
With Converia, you can organize parallel calls—for individual presentations, sessions, and workshops—without media discontinuities, all within a consistent workflow.
- Call for Papers (CfP) – Abstracts / Program / Speakers
- Abstract Management – Abstracts / Program / Speakers
- Scheduling (Program Planning) – Abstracts / Program / Speakers
Parallel calls for presentations and entire sessions—manage both formats in one system.