May 24–27, 2026 | Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC
Call for Proposals Open Dec 9
The ACE-WIL BC/Yukon and CACEE Conference Planning Committee is thrilled to invite proposals for presentations, workshops, panels, and lightning talks for the 2026 Joint Conference.
This event will now be provincial and national in scope and will explore how disruption—technological, societal, and economic—drives innovation in Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) and career development.
Submission Deadline: February 15, 2026
Notification of Decisions: Late February 2026
Reimagining the Future of Work-Integrated Learning and Careers
This theme highlights how disruption—whether technological, societal, or economic—can drive innovation in WIL, campus recruitment, and career development. We invite forward-thinking proposals that explore how experiential learning, employers, and career services can evolve, adapt, and thrive in times of change.
Conference Sub-Themes
Conference programming will align with one or more of the following sub-themes, each reflecting the overarching theme Reimagining the Future of Work-Integrated Learning and Careers. These sub-themes are designed to guide proposal development and support a diverse program that highlights innovative research, practical tools, and evidence-based approaches across post-secondary, employer, and community contexts. Presenters are encouraged to share insights, models, and collaborations that inspire new ways of thinking about the future of WIL and career development.
Explore innovative strategies, tools, and programming that prepare students for a rapidly changing world of work. This theme invites proposals showcasing career education practices and service models, competency frameworks, and skills development initiatives such as case competitions, hackathons, and digital badging. It also welcomes approaches to onboarding, employee engagement, simulations, and micro credentials that foster career readiness and lifelong learning.
Strong partnerships between employers, educators, and communities are essential to advancing meaningful WIL and career opportunities for post-secondary talent. This theme focuses on employer branding and campus recruitment strategy, collaboration between industry and the post-secondary sector, shared value creation, and employer engagement that enhances learning, meeting industry talent needs, and empowering student success.
WIL is evolving beyond traditional placements. This theme encourages exploration of new and emerging forms of WIL — including virtual, project-based, entrepreneurial, community-based, and research-integrated experiences. Proposals may also highlight how student voices of experience, co-design, and co-creation are shaping the future of experiential learning.
This theme focuses on creating inclusive, accessible, and equitable environments for learning, career development, and work. Proposals are encouraged that highlight programming, evidence-based practice, research, case studies that centre reconciliation, well-being, representation, or belonging within WIL, campus recruitment, and career development contexts.
Examine applications of pedagogy and learning theory to inform, transform, and strengthen outcomes in WIL, career education, and early talent programming. Topics may include instructional design, reflective practice, design thinking, data and assessment, leadership and rotational programs, faculty training, and e-learning or professional development initiatives for students, staff, and leaders across our field.
2026 Conference hosted by:
