Call for Papers: LEAP PG Conference, 24-26 June 2026, University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen’s second International PGR conference on
Language Education, Acquisition & Policy
2026
Keynote Speakers
-
Dr Aisling O'Boyle, Queen’s University Belfast
-
Dr Elsa Petit, Queen Mary University of London
-
Dr Sultan Turkan, Queen’s University Belfast
Overview
Each year, hundreds of students all across the globe start their PhD journey to help shape the conversations on language education, acquisition, and policy though their doctoral research. Some of their contributions will directly impact the ways languages are taught and learned in their home countries, other contributions will go far beyond and affect the international community. To facilitate knowledge exchange and networking among PhD students working in these areas, the Centre of Training and Research in Linguistics is inviting PGRs from across the United Kingdom and beyond to join us for a three-day hybrid conference at the University of Aberdeen. LEAP 2026 will serve to connect emerging scholars and help them in the planning of their next career move, with keynote talks from Dr. Aisling O'Boyle, Dr Elsa Petit, and Dr. Sultan Turkan, as well as career workshops led by staff at Language & Linguistics in Aberdeen.
We invite PGRs in the SHAPE disciplines to submit papers centred on language policy, education, and language acquisition, particularly , but not limited to the following topics:
- AI-assisted language learning
- Boundaries between foreign and second language learning
- Creativity in the language classroom
- Language contact in a globalised world
- Language learning as a life-long endeavour
- Language learning policies in multilingual contexts
- Mental health and well-being in the language classroom
- (New) challenges for English as a Lingua Franca
Submission Guidelines
We welcome submissions from doctoral students and recent graduates for individual and collaborative papers (15 minutes) and posters, presented online or in-person. Each presenter will be issued a certificate of attendance and will be considered for a proceeding’s submission.
Please send anonymised abstracts of no more than 200 words (excluding references) to ctrl@abdn.ac.uk by 15 May 2026. Notifications of acceptance will be sent out by 22 May 2026.
Conference proceedings: Like last year, there will be a selected proceedings volume.