Submit to ABSEL 2024 (Click HERE)

Call for Papers, Extended Abstracts, Experiential Learning Activities, Simulations, Games, Demonstrations, Panels and Other Submissions

51^st Annual Conference 

March 14 – March 16, 2024

Drury Plaza Hotel , Orlando, FL USA

THEME: “Experiential Education at a Crossroads”

Conference Program Chair:

Disruptions caused by COVID-19 and other global phenomena have forced educators to adapt and scale technology at a never-before-seen pace. The dramatic transformations necessitated since 2020 have put higher education in general, and business education in particular, at a critical junction of intersectionality. This unique juncture creates immense opportunities to enhance learning through experiences; be it in  the different ways of adapting emerging technologies like generative AI into classroom experience or sensitizing the learners about the importance of DEI in the business environment. Therefore the Association for Business Simulation and Experiential Learning (ABSEL) has chosen “Experiential Education at a Crossroads” as the theme for the 51st Annual Conference.

The Association for Business Simulation and Experiential Learning (ABSEL) Conference

Experience the unique culture of an ABSEL conference, where the strength of the organization lies not only in offering ground-breaking research and cutting-edge practices in experience-based learning but in providing attendees, from all across the world, a setting for presenting their research that is warm, supportive, and friendly. The collective knowledge of ABSEL attendees, along with their passion for improving student learning and engagement, are surpassed only by the welcoming environment that has been cultivated over some fifty annual meetings. ABSEL is an exceptional place to connect, share, and rejuvenate your passion for teaching the next generation of business leaders. Please join us at the 2024 ABSEL Conference and become part of this vibrant, engaging, and incredibly supportive community. We promise it will be an experience you’ll want to return to year after year.

We encourage you to further explore the ABSEL website and our past proceedings to get an idea of the breadth and depth of our research on Simulation and other Experiential Learning pedagogues.

Call for submissions to the 51st ABSEL Conference

ABSEL invites new and experienced academicians, professionals, and students from all disciplinary areas to submit papers for presentation and demonstrations related to business simulation and experiential learning. We especially encourage young faculty and doctoral candidates to participate in ABSEL and get the benefit of interacting with some of the most renowned personalities in business simulations and experiential learning. Student participation in ABSEL is highly encouraged.

We welcome quantitative and qualitative research, theoretical models, literature reviews, cases, demonstrations, exercises, panels, and other work related to creative or innovative teaching and learning methods for our main tracks: Simulations; Experiential Learning; Innovations and Future Directions in Education. 

The proceedings of the conference will be posted online in an open-access, word-searchable publication, Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential Learning (DBSEL) available at www.absel.org. A complete archive of ABSEL papers (from 1974) is available for either direct access or search through Google Scholar.

Submission Types

Extended Abstract* – an extended abstract is minimum 1,000 words, including references. Extended abstracts will be included in the online proceedings.

Full Paper* – full papers will be published in the online proceedings and will enter the best paper review procedure.

Professional Development Workshop and Games Ready to Play Sessions – for detailed submission information, please refer to the website or contact the designated Track Chair or Program Chair.

*Note: While we accept extended abstracts, we encourage submission of full papers as they improve the quality and timeliness of the research available in the proceedings. Our policy allows for subsequent journal publication of a later version.  If a journal’s editorial policy precludes publishing a revision of a published conference paper, ABSEL allows authors to withdraw the original paper from the proceedings prior to submission or final journal publication.

Submission Timeline

October 23 NOVEMBER 6, 2023  Due date for all submission types for review. All submissions must be done electronically by following the link at www.absel.org > ABSEL 2024 Conference > Submission guidelines

November 24, 2023 Notification of reviewer decisions on acceptance of papers.

December 21, 2023 Due date for submission of revised, fully formatted manuscripts for inclusion in the conference proceedings.

January 15, 2024 ABSEL Conference registration fees must be paid by at least one author to be included in the conference program and conference proceedings.  Register at: www.absel.org

Conference Tracks and Sessions

Competitive Tracks

Simulations: Manuscripts in this track focus not only on the development and creation of business simulations and games, but also their use in the classroom. Research related to theory development about the role of simulations in learning, best practices of using simulations in the classroom, assessment of learning outcomes, and other related work with business simulations and gaming are welcomed.  

Track Chair:  Celeste Grimard, celeste.grimard@yahoo.com 

Experiential: This track focuses upon experiential methods including but not limited to classroom experiential exercises, service learning, cultural immersion/study abroad, flipped classroom, business planning/new venture creation, internship, consulting/live case, experience based projects etc.  These methods may be employed in the classroom, community as laboratory, or workplace as a learning community.  This track will also accept papers that focus on theory building, development, application, and assessment associated with any form of experiential learning activities.  

Track Chair:  Annette L. Halpin, halpina@arcadia.edu

Innovations and Future Directions in Education: Innovations Track focuses on research that addresses developments in education that reflect emerging educational and/or technological innovations as well as their use to enhance learning experiences. These include but are not limited to online learning, distance education, the use of new, emerging teaching technologies like generative AI etc. Papers that address developments in education both conceptually as well as application are highly welcomed.  

Track Chair:  James Cannon, james.cannon@usu.edu

Non competitive Sessions

Games Ready to Play: This Session will allow conference attendees to actually participate in games that can be either played to completion or for some games, played for at least a single round within a time frame of 1–1.5 hours. This track is specifically designed for educators to showcase games that they have developed for their classes and get feedback from their peers. This session is NOT meant for discussion of commercial simulation/game based products for adaptation.

Session Chair: Roy Hamada, hamada@edu.asahikawa-nct.ac.jp

Professional Development Workshop: The ABSEL Pre-conference Workshop aims to support the professional development of our members and educators at large in their work with learners. The pre-conference workshop aims to provide hands-on experiential exercises relevant to helping educators enhance their effectiveness. Sessions are typically 1-2 hours long.

Workshop Chair: Jennifer Petrie Wyman, jlpetrie@business.pitt.edu  

PLEASE NOTE: 

1. Submissions for the Games Ready to Play and Professional Development Tracks are listed on the program, but are not published in the proceedings. Attendees who wish to publish their work in the proceedings are encouraged to submit their work for one of the other three tracks that best fits their work for consideration for acceptance.
2. Corporations and other entities interested in discussing and promoting their simulation and game products for adoption by attendees are encouraged to reach out to the Program Chair and discuss sponsorship opportunities.