Guidance on Bids to Host IASSIST Conferences

The following guidelines have been prepared by the IASSIST Administrative Committee to assist those considering proposals to host an IASSIST Conference.

The IASSIST Conference is held annually and is hosted by IASSIST members, often drawing upon some level of organisational support from their institution. The IASSIST conferences should break-even in financial terms, but in practice, most conferences return a small surplus.

In the past, the country of location has followed a four-year cycle: USA, Europe, USA, Canada. Following approaches from other IASSIST Regions, the Administrative Committee decided that it was willing to consider departing from this four-year cycle, beginning with the IASSIST Conference for the year 2000. The conference archive provides further details.

The IASSIST Administrative Committee intends that proposals to host the annual IASSIST Conference should be made to the current IASSIST President in time to be considered by the Administrative Meeting two years before the conference for which the application is being made.

A proposal to host the annual conference should cover each of the following elements:

Infrastructure available to support local arrangements for the conference:

• Technical (physical)
  1. to support workshops/presentations
  2. to support conference planning/participation by organisation
• Accommodation
  1. Beds
  2. Conference rooms
• Human resources available
  1. Organisational
  2. Financial
  3. Technical support
• Financial factors

The proposal should include a preliminary budget summary with categories for local arrangements (Conference site fees, food and events, technical support fees, etc.)

The proposal might also address issues such as:

• Likelihood of attendance and conference programme participation
  1. local
  2. international
• Financial support from local, regional or international organisations.

Factors that will be taken into consideration in evaluating conference proposals will include:

• The cost of travel for delegates, length of travel, attractiveness as a travel destination, exchange rates, etc.
• Need for support by IASSIST (financial and organisational)
• Likelihood of expansion of membership following a conference
• Strategic (IASSIST Regional development)

Note: Conference organisers use and update this IASSIST conference manual on an annual basis. [Editable version in Word.] The editable version should be passed along by the previous year's organisers to the current year's organisers.