About ISSA Conference 2024
Every year ISSA hosts an international conference on an important theme around Early Childhood. ISSA Conference is a unique platform to listen to the world’s leading Early Childhood experts, an opportunity to learn from your peers, but also to share the knowledge and experience you have gained. ISSA unites researchers, practitioners and policymakers from around the world. Together, we explore themes through discussion and interactive sessions, and we share lessons learned and proven solutions from which you will benefit instantly. As always, there will be a rich and diverse offer of one-day pre-conference workshops and site visits for you to choose from, alongside conference sessions.
This year’s conference will be preceded by a diverse range of pre-conference workshops, taking place in parallel on 22 October, and optional site visits and sightseeing tours will be organized on 25 October. The conference will also mark ISSA’s 25th anniversary as a learning community devoted to Early Childhood Development, and the 30th anniversary of the Open Society Foundations’ Step by Step Program, upon whose legacy and resulting network ISSA continues to build.
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Explore ISSA Conference 2024:
Conference Theme and Strands
The 2024 conference theme is: It Takes an Early Childhood Ecosystem for All Young Children to Thrive, which recognizes that we live in disruptive and increasingly challenging times where the concern for protecting and asserting the importance of safe, healthy, and happy childhoods is more pressing than ever. Learn more about the conference theme and its three strands.
Conference Call for Proposals
Now closed, details about the call for proposals for this year's conference can be found here.
Keynote Speakers
This year, we are thrilled to welcome to the plenary stage keynote speakers James Cairns, M.A., Senior Director for Strategic Engagements and Organizational Learning at the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University and Mathias Urban, Phd, Desmond Chair of Early Childhood Education and Director of the Early Childhood Research Centre (ECRC) at Dublin City University, Ireland (DCU). Read their bios, abstracts, and preview their talks.
Key Conference Dates
- Extended Call for Proposal deadline: 13 May 2024
- Early Bird registration: until 12 August 6 September 2024
- Registration closes: 7 October 2024
- Pre-Conference Events: 22 October 2024
- ISSA Conference 2024: 23-24 October 2024
- Site Visits & Sightseeing Tours: 25 October 2024
Registration Information
Registration for the ISSA Conference 2024 is now open. Please refer to the conference registration fees below and register to secure your participation.
- Bulgaria Conference partner: € 330
- ISSA Members & groups* with discount
- Early Bird: € 360
- Regular: € 415 (after September 6)
- Early Bird: € 435
- Regular: € 500 (after September 6)
During registration, you will have the option to sign up for the pre-conference and networking events as well as the diverse site visits to early childhood centred services and sightseeing activities in and around Sofia.
*Groups with 5 or more participants are eligible for the group discount.
Participant Package Includes:
- Digital program and Conference App
- Admission to some pre-conference workshops on 22 October (registration required)
- Admission to all conference sessions
- Opening Reception on 22 October
- Coffee breaks on 23-24 October
- Lunches on 23-24 October
- Free ticket to Muzeiko, a children’s museum in Sofia
- Admission to the site visits on 25 October (registration required)
Conference Venue
The conference will be held at the Grand Millennium Sofia, located at Ivan Vazov, Vitosha Blvd 89B, 1463 Sofia, Bulgaria. Visit https://grandhotelmillenniumsofia.bg/ for further details.
For pre- and post- conference events and dinners, see program details for location information.
Conference Co-hosts and Partners
ISSA Conference 2024 is hosted by:
In partnership with:
With the support of:
The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
The Ministry of Education and Science
The Ministry of Healthcare
The Municipality of Sofia
UNICEF
About ISSA
ISSA is a leading international learning community and dynamic member association, powered by Europe’s and Central Asia’s foremost early childhood experts. Our shared, unwavering goal is to ensure that every child reaches their full potential. With a steadfast commitment to advancing early childhood development based on principles of inclusivity and equity, we champion holistic and integrated systems, policies, and high-quality services for all young children.
In fostering purpose-driven collaborations among members, partners, and supporters, ISSA creates a collective synergy that significantly amplifies our impact on early childhood development in diverse, dynamic, and multi-faceted environments. Our expertise lies in devising and implementing evidence-based solutions customized to meet distinct localized needs, distinguishing us for our ability to foster trust and resilience. Moreover, we excel in generating and sharing new knowledge and fostering innovations focused on transforming early childhood systems, thereby ensuring improved outcomes for all.
Learn more: https://www.issa.nl/
About Trust for Social Achievement
Trust for Social Achievement is a grant-making, nongovernmental organization dedicated to overcoming poverty and achieving greater equity. Toward this end, we support activities in four program areas:
- Early Childhood Development - with two programs First Foundations and Early Learning and Care;
- Educational Achievement;
- Family Economic Success - with two programs Housing and Zoning and Employment and Entrepreneurship
- Capacity Building;
As a pioneer and an incubator for new approaches and ideas, TSA tests how best to tackle deeply rooted achievement gaps. Achieving scale and sustainability will take time and cooperation. This is why TSA values partnership and the creation of networks and coalitions of like-minded allies.
Learn more: https://socialachievement.org/en/
Past ISSA Conferences
Curious about the themes, strands, and keynote speakers from ISSA Conferences in recent years?
