Why an Unconference?

An unconference is a participant-driven event following a bottom-up model conducive to identifying common opportunities and solutions to pressing challenges.

Since the foundation of APTIS, the translation and interpreting sector and the language industries have experienced a series of radically changing events: Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, varying student numbers, the challenges of decolonisation and EDI, and the rapid integration of AI into production processes. Reflecting on the implications of these changes requires the type of time and space that regular conference formats do not always provide.

Advancements in generative AI have boosted claims of the possibility of fully replacing humans in interlinguistic and intercultural stages, and there is growing pressure for modern languages and translation and interpreting programmes to respond to these changes. The sector is actively reflecting on these discussions, but we rarely have enough time to work together to identify efficient and sustainable solutions.

The 2024 APTIS (Un)conference will be an appropriate venue for academics, translation and interpreter trainers and researchers to come together and discuss topics, challenges and opportunities, thus providing a nurturing ground for discussions and cooperation to tackle urgent needs.

Basic Unconference Rules

We encourage all participants to embody the principles of the unconference and engage in making it a success. It is essential that participants are mindful and support some basic rules:

1. Everyone is a participant
2. All participants must actively engage in activities
3. Everyone has a role to play in making the event successful
4. There are a variety of session types and formats in which to participate. Find the one that fits well with your style but be willing to explore other options. You will be a participant in many different ways throughout this event!
5. Maintaining the schedule and being mindful of time is a sign of respect for participants and their contributions, so we all need to be thoughtful timekeepers.

Rules from The Unconference ToolkitLink opens in a new window

Sessions and format

Unconferences are heavily discussion-based, and it is common for concrete projects to emerge from these discussions. The 2024 APTIS Unconference won’t follow the traditional paper plus-question panel format will be organised around a series of specific sessions raising distinct questions. The overarching aim of APTIS 2024 is to share good practice, learn from each other, reflect on our experiences and collaboratively co-create the conference from the bottom up.

The precise format, topic and duration of the Unconference sessions will be defined by participants. Flexibility and active engagement will be essential for the (Un)conference. and their research, and five unconference discussion sessions (each with three parallel rooms and leaders).

Before the Unconference

A pre-conference survey will be used to canvas the attendees and start framing the discussions for the conference. A general “session plan” will be agreed upon amongst attendees, with attendees asked to share their reasons for attending the unconference and what they hope to gain from it. Each session can use this format as a starting point and then decide how to continue the conversation.

During the Unconference

The unconference will include two parts featuring different types of sessions. A final conference-wide session will help us round up the discussions and lay out a roadmap for potential collaborations

Submit your proposals here.

If you have ideas for another type of session that could work with the overall Unconference but doesn’t fit the above, drop us an email!