12th International Conference on Life Skills Education
“Revisiting Life Skills: Integrating Theory and Practice for Regenerative Societies”
Jointly organised by the Department of Social Work, Sardar Patel University and the Indian Association of Life Skills Education (IALSE), Chennai — bringing together educators, researchers, social work professionals, policymakers and practitioners on one international, interdisciplinary platform.
Call for Participation
At the 12th International Conference on Life Skills Education (ICLSE 2027), we invite educators, researchers, social work professionals, policymakers, development organisations, and practitioners to revisit life skills by integrating theory and practice and to explore their role in advancing human dignity, social equity, environmental stewardship, and global citizenship on an international, interdisciplinary platform.
Backdrop
The world is experiencing rapid technological advancement, ecological challenges, widening social inequalities, and shifting patterns of human interaction. These realities call for a renewed understanding of life skills education that moves beyond helping individuals cope with change to empowering them to contribute to resilient, equitable, and regenerative societies. Collective societal change can only occur when individuals are first anchored in personal agency, self-mastery, and the cognitive adaptability required to navigate rapid transitions.
The modern landscape requires a deeper look at life skills education, shifting our focus from coping mechanisms to active renewal and long-term societal harmony. While traditional life skills have focused on helping individuals adapt to and sustain themselves in challenging environments, the complexities of today’s world call for an intentional shift towards a regenerative culture — one defined by deep empathy and creative change-making. Hence, there is a critical need to revisit conceptualisations of life skills education at this turning point. By revisiting life skills through this forward-looking lens, we enrich personal competencies, equipping individuals with the adaptive agency needed to move from merely managing day-to-day adversity to stewardship-driven behaviour.
Key questions this conference addresses
- 1How should life skills education be re-envisioned to address contemporary social, technological, and environmental challenges?
- 2How can theory and field practice be integrated to strengthen the quality and impact of life skills education?
- 3What role can life skills play in promoting social equity, gender justice, digital citizenship, peace, and ecological stewardship?
- 4How can interdisciplinary collaborations generate evidence-informed approaches for education, community development, and public policy?
- 5How can life skills education prepare individuals and institutions to contribute meaningfully to regenerative societies?
A platform to bridge knowledge and action
This conference offers a dynamic platform to revisit the evolving landscape of life skills education by integrating theory and practice to address the complex challenges of our times. By bringing together researchers, educators, practitioners, policymakers, and life skills professionals from diverse domains, the conference will foster critical dialogue, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the exchange of evidence-informed practices that contribute to regenerative societies.
We invite you to join this collective endeavour to bridge knowledge and action and to reimagine a life skills framework that empowers individuals and communities not only to address the challenges of our times, but also to regenerate the human, social, and ecological systems on which our collective future depends.
Seven pathways, one regenerative framework
Each sub-theme is a spoke in the same wheel — select one to read more, or present your paper across any track below.
Life Skills
Social Work, Community Empowerment, and Rights-Based Practice for Regenerative Societies
Eleven formats, three days, hybrid throughout
The conference is expected to cater to over 300 delegates from India and abroad, held in both face-to-face and online modes.
Who should attend
Academicians, social scientists, research scholars/researchers, government representatives and officials, members of civil society, NGO practitioners, youth workers, trainers and practitioners of life skills, professional social workers and activists — and anyone interested in life skills education, training and research — are invited as delegates, sponsors and partners for deliberations and paper presentations.
Guiding ICLSE 2027
Mark your calendar
Registration fees
Registration begins 15 September 2026. Fee includes the conference kit, lunch and refreshments across all three days.
| Category | Early Bird (up to 15 Nov 2026) | Regular (up to 15 Dec 2026) | Spot Registration | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-person | Online | In-person | Online | ||
| Academicians / Professionals (Paper Presenters) / SAARC Nations | ₹3,500 | ₹3,000 | ₹4,000 | ₹3,500 | ₹5,000 |
| Foreign Delegates / NRI (Paper Presenters) | $100 | $100 | $125 | $125 | $150 |
| IALSE Members, Research Scholars & Collaborating-Agency Participants | ₹2,000 | ₹1,500 | ₹3,000 | ₹2,000 | ₹3,500 |
| Students | ₹1,000 | ₹1,000 | ₹1,000 | ₹1,000 | ₹1,500 |
- All co-presenters must register individually for the conference, otherwise separate certificates will not be issued.
- Registration should be completed online on or before 30 November 2026, after which only spot-registration fees apply.
- Conference fees are paid online only — see payment details on the IALSE website. Registration without payment will not be accepted, papers submitted without payment will not be published, and fees once paid are non-refundable.
Abstract & full paper submission
Selected papers will be published in a Proceedings book (ISSN) and the peer-reviewed International Journal for Life Skills Education (IJLSE, ISSN).
Formatting requirements
- Abstract should not exceed 300 words — longer abstracts will not enter the review process.
- Identify the relevant conference sub-theme / thematic track.
- English (Times New Roman, 12pt), Gujarati (Shruti, 12.5pt), or Hindi (Shruti, 13pt).
- 1.5 line spacing; margins of 1 inch on all sides.
- Title should be brief, yet clearly indicate the nature of the study.
Content & author details
- State briefly the background, purpose/objectives, methodology, results, conclusions/discussion, and keywords.
- Mark the first author with a superscript asterisk (e.g., Axxxx*).
- Include designation and affiliation of all authors on a separate page.
- Provide the corresponding author's phone number and email address.
Manuscript structure
- Author name appears on the title page only, to enable blind review.
- Order: Title, Authors, Affiliation, Abstract, Keywords, Main Text, Acknowledgements, Appendix, References.
- 1.5 spacing (single-spaced for indented material, notes and references); 1 inch margins on all sides.
- Headings and title in 14pt; body text — English (Times New Roman, 12pt), Gujarati (Shruti, 12.5pt), Hindi (Shruti, 13pt).
- References must follow APA format.
Eligibility & separate cover page
- Separate page with: paper title, suggested sub-theme, author name(s), organisation/institution, and corresponding author's phone/fax/email.
- The manuscript must not be previously copyrighted, published, presented, or currently under review elsewhere.
- A signed declaration to this effect must accompany the final paper (format shared separately).
- Papers must be received by the stated deadline and conform to format and length requirements.
Research Methodology in Life Skills Education
A two-day workshop led by expert resource persons with extensive experience in life skills education — held 4–5 January 2027, ahead of the main conference.
Workshop registration
A/c Holder: Indian Association of Life Skills Education
Bank: Canara Bank, Ashok Nagar, Chennai 600 083
A/c No.: 2926101003784 · IFSC: CNRB0000975 · MICR: 600015006
Become a strategic contributor
We invite educational institutions, civil society organisations, development agencies, foundations, and mission-aligned enterprises to help shape the discourse and direction of life skills for regenerative societies.
Conference Branding
Logo and name placement across select conference communications — programme booklet, banners, and digital materials — aligning your institution with a rights-based vision of transformative learning.
Spotlight Sessions
Dedicated parallel slots to showcase your contributions to life skills education, present programs and research, and engage with a diverse global audience. Selected materials feature in the Conference Resource Kit.
Knowledge in Every Hand
Include your publications, toolkits, or curated material (subject to approval) in the Conference Kit distributed to every registered participant — a great way to amplify reach and foster new collaborations.
Two institutions, one shared mission
Indian Association of Life Skills Education (IALSE)
A registered society since 2010, creating a forum for officials, academicians, professionals, researchers, policymakers, and like-minded individuals to strengthen life skills education through an interdisciplinary approach. IALSE has a pan-India presence with 300+ members and publishes the International Journal of Life Skills Education (IJLSE).
www.ialse.in →
Department of Social Work, Sardar Patel University
Established 1997 within Sardar Patel University (founded 1955) — recognised as the First Green University of Gujarat, re-accredited 'A' Grade (CGPA 3.11) by NAAC. The Department integrates academic learning, research, field practice and community engagement across human development, mental health, HR development, and sustainable social transformation.
spuvvn.edu →
Registration & partnership contacts
Prof. (Dr.) Bigi Thomas
Mr. B. Senthil
Dr. Gauri Hardikar
Join us in Vallabh Vidyanagar, 6–8 January 2027
Be part of an international movement dedicated to equity, resilience, and transformative learning — and help reimagine a life skills framework that regenerates the human, social, and ecological systems on which our collective future depends.