Date and time
The 2026 Student and Early Career Conference ttook place 3-4 September 2026 at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, UK. Delegates engagedd in thought-provoking debates, and cultivate valuable connections.
As the world faces up to global geopolitical tensions, economic instability, climate change, disrupted global supply chains, the rise of AI, and social inequality, it is a period of uncertainty and change across many regions, leading to increasing questions around the resilience and sustainability of regions, as well as opportunities for change. The theme for this conference covers contemporary issues in Regional Studies research.
Co-organised by Cardiff University Business School and Cardiff Metropolitan University School of Management, the 2026 RSA Student and ECR Conference invites papers discussing topics including, but not limited to:
- Addressing regional disparities
- Harnessing regional strengths
- Promoting regional innovation and entrepreneurship
- Inclusive regional growth
- Regional ecosystems
- New approaches to regional policy, planning and governance
- Re-imagining regional places and spaces
- Digital technology, platforms and regional development
- Regional mobility and migration
- Regionalisation in emerging economies
- Regional land-use, housing and infrastructure
- Regional identity, culture and regionalism
The RSA Student and ECR conference serves as a vibrant platform for emerging scholars from across the world to present their research, engage in thought-provoking debates, and cultivate valuable connections. We offer a welcoming, supportive, and intellectually stimulating environment where participants from diverse backgrounds and disciplines converge to share knowledge and insights.
What You Can Expect:
- Networking and Collaboration: Connect with like-minded peers and establish valuable collaborations in your field. Forge connections that can shape the future of your research and career.
- Constructive Feedback: Receive expert feedback on your research. Gain fresh perspectives and insights that can elevate your work to new heights.
- Career Advancement: Attend workshops designed to equip you with essential skills and knowledge that will empower your academic and professional journey, including how to get published; how to win external research funding; how to manage your own research project; and how to take the next steps in your career.
- Practical Takeaways: Join panel discussions with academics and Regional stakeholders to explore fresh perspectives on how to drive positive regional change, promote sustainability, and nurture inclusivity within your community and beyond.