HACU 15th International Conference
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May 4-6, 2026 • Kimpton Santo Hotel • San Antonio, Texas
Call for Presentations
2026 International Conference
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Submission Process
Presentations should be submitted and presented in English.
November 14, 2025
December 12, 2025
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities will host its biennial international conference during a milestone year for the Association as it marks the 40th anniversary of HACU’s founding in San Antonio, Texas in 1986. To celebrate, the Association is hosting the 15th International Conference in the city of HACU’s founding, May 4-6, 2026, at the Kimpton Santo Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. HACU’s International Conference features sessions about the latest trends, model programs, research, and cutting-edge projects related to international education.
The conference brings together an internationally renowned roster of keynote speakers and an extraordinary gathering of participants representing higher education, government, business, community and philanthropic sectors from around the world.
HACU is seeking speaker proposals for both higher education professionals and students that address the conference theme,“Bridging Nations to Advance Higher Education,” in any of the following four conference tracks.
Track 1:
International Partnerships and Institutional Strategy
Topics may include:
- Sustainable academic and research partnerships across borders.
- Internationalization at home and within institutional priorities.
- Strengthening binational and multilateral higher ed agreements.
- Faculty-led initiatives and collaborative consortia.
- Navigating cross-national regulatory and accreditation frameworks.
- Strategic outreach for international enrollment
Track 2:
Global Competencies and Curriculum
Topics may include:
- Partnerships and collaborations for global workforce development.
- Assessing and measuring global competencies.
- Cultural intelligence and global competence.
- High-impact global experiences and dynamic experiential learning, such as internships, and/or study abroad programs.
- Creative curricular and co-curricular offerings.
- Multilingual communication and collaboration in professional settings.
Track 3:
Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainability
Topics may include:
- Innovation and green technologies.
- Public-private partnerships and cross-sector collaborations.
- Sustainable sourcing, fair trade, responsible production, and supply chain transparency.
- Ethical considerations and responsible global business practices.
- Reskilling and upskilling initiatives.
- Climate change education, sustainable business practices, and environmental stewardship.
- Skills and competencies required for green jobs, and strategies for promoting green entrepreneurship.
Track 4:
Teaching, Learning, and Technology
Topics may include:
- Performance-based assessments, portfolio assessments, and digital badges.
- Digital transformation, automation, AI, and their impact on jobs, skills, and career development.
- Digital literacy and technology integration.
- Ethical issues with the use of new technologies in research and the use of AI as a new resource.
Conference Format
HACU’s International Conference features informative plenary sessions with keynote speakers, and interactive conference track sessions featuring individual presenters and panel discussions.
Presentations are 90 minutes in length, including time for discussion and questions.
- A workshop is an interactive session composed of one to three topics aimed at developing a particular skill or knowledge in a specific area.
- A panel session is composed of up to three areas on different aspects of a specific topic.
No more than four individuals may serve on a panel or workshop session.In some instances, the HACU review committee may suggest combining presentations similar in content into one workshop or panel.
All conference rooms will be set up to accommodate the maximum number of conference participants possible. LCD projectors, laptops and screens are available to presenters at no cost.
Submission Guidelines
All proposals should relate to the conference theme, “Bridging Nations to Advance Higher Education.”
Submissions must include the following:
- Presentation Title (10-word limit).
- Presentation Abstract (50-75 word limit)–A brief description to be included in the conference program.
- Presentation Plan (50-word limit)–A brief description to be included in the conference program that provides an overview of expected audience involvement. Interactive presentations are highly encouraged.
- Presentation Summary (250-300 word limit)–Extended description of proposal for committee review. Proposals will be reviewed for relevance to the conference theme, thoroughness and clarity, and expected learning outcomes.
- More than one proposal may be submitted, but only one will be accepted per presenter.Proposals can be submitted by one person or a group of no more than four people. The first presenter listed on the submission form will be considered the lead contact and is required to provide HACU with all contact information for co-presenters. HACU will notify the lead contact person if the proposal was selected. It is the responsibility of the lead contact person to notify the other presenters, and to organize and facilitate presentation.
- HACU reserves the right to edit summaries of accepted presentations for inclusion in the conference program.
- All presenters are required to register for the conference and will be able to register at a discounted conference registration rate. HACU does not pay presenters honoraria, expenses, or waive the conference registration fee.
- Presentation proposals must be submitted online and will be accepted until November 14, 2025
- Notification of HACU workshop committee decisions will be made by December 12, 2025
Get in Touch
Contact Information
For questions, please contact:
(Para cualquier pregunta sobre esta Convocatoria de Ponencias, favor de comunicarse con:)
- Pamela Garza
-
Executive Director, Institute for Global Engagement
(Directora Ejecutiva, Instituto de Enlace Global) - global@hacu.net
- 210-576-3231
