Theme: Exploring New Horizons in Liberal Arts

• Date: 15th May 2026 (Virtual)
• Venue: Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai Campus
• Participants: Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students (Paper & Poster)
  11th and 12th Grade School Students (Poster Only)

We are pleased to announce the Fourth International Student Research Colloquium hosted by the Manipal Institute of Liberal Arts, Exploring New Horizons in Liberal Arts’. This annual academic initiative, conducted virtually in the Fourth edition, is designed to foster critical inquiry and creative exploration by offering students a platform to showcase their research projects.

The colloquium aims to bring together emerging young scholars from undergraduate and postgraduate programs as well as school students, encouraging them to engage in thoughtful dialogue — not only with peers but also with faculty members who contribute to the academic exchange. The event celebrates research excellence across the fields of English Language and Literature, Psychology, Sociology, and Media, while welcoming interdisciplinary contributions from the broader liberal arts community.

Participants are invited to submit papers and posters that reflect original thought, intellectual curiosity, and academic rigor. Awards will be presented for the Best Paper and Best Poster submissions.

Submissions are invited in, but not limited to, the following thematic tracks:

• Language and Literature
• Society and Culture
• Gender and Society
• Media, Film, and Creative Industries
• Psychology and Community
• AI and Liberal Arts
• Media, Culture and Politics
• Environment, Sustainability, and Society
• Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity
• Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics
• Mental Health and Well-being
• Tech-assisted Language Learning
• AI in Behavioral Studies
• Diaspora and Identity
• Popular Cinema and Soft Propaganda
• Storytelling in the Digital Age Across Multimedia Platforms
• Digital and Social Media Cultures

Key Dates:

• Abstract submission deadline for UG and PG students: 12th April 2026
• Abstract submission deadline for 11th and 12th Grade students: 24th April 2026
• Virtual Colloquium: 15th May 2026

We look forward to the enthusiastic participation of students who are eager to contribute to meaningful academic conversations and collaborative research within the liberal arts.

Note: In the interest of making the event accessible to as many rising scholars and researchers, we have decided to lower the registration fee for undergraduate and postgraduate students in the upcoming virtual edition.

For every accepted paper, the registration fee is set at AED 30. For interested participants including poster authors, the registration fee is set at AED 20 per participant. Please note that the registration fee need only be paid after notification of the acceptance of abstracts.

The registration fee is waived for all school students.

Patron
Dr. Sudhindra Shamanna, Pro-Vice Chancellor, MAHE, Dubai

Convener
Prof. Elsa Thomas Chairperson, Manipal Institute of Liberal Arts, MAHE, Dubai

Faculty Coordinators
Dr. Mitul Joseph, Assistant Professor, MILA
Prof. Amal Shiyas, Assistant Professor, MILA
Dr. Jereesh K Elias, Assistant Professor – Senior Scale, MILA

Student Coordinators
Ms. Anamika P S, BA Media and Communication
Ms. Riya Manish Shetty, BSc Applied Psychology
Mr. Yuvan Shankar, MAHE Foundation Program

Abstract Review Panelists
Dr. Richa Arora, Assistant Professor, MILA
Dr. Rincy Daniel, Assistant Professor, MILA
Prof. Sivaprasad Nandakumar, Assistant Professor, MILA
Prof. Fathima Zeba, Assistant Professor, MILA
Prof. Aswathy Menon, Assistant Professor, MILA
Ms. Ayman Sayed, Faculty Associate, MILA

Abstract Submission Guidelines

• Abstracts for consideration should be submitted through this form: https://forms.gle/ac3JmdaWeJi9GZUj8
• An individual prospective participant cannot submit more than two abstracts
• Abstract must be submitted in English
• Paper and Poster Abstract should include (300 words) - objective/purpose; method; findings/results; relevance; implications as well as 3 to 5 keywords
• Once abstracts have been accepted, no changes in authorship and text may be made

Paper Presentation Detailed Guidelines: Open only to undergraduate & postgraduate students

• A paper presentation should have the following sections: title, introduction, literature review, methodology, results/findings/discussion, conclusion and references. They may also include tables, figures, and appendixes (if applicable).
• The title should not be more than 20 words. The full names of all authors and their institutional affiliation should be mentioned below the title.
• Only up to two authors of an accepted paper may present. The remaining co-authors may be called upon to respond during the Q & A portion.
• For referencing and citations, APA/MLA referencing styles should be followed.
• All bibliographic entries must contain a corresponding in-text citation.
• Each presentation should be no more than 15 minutes, with 10 minutes allotted for the presentation, followed by Q & A of maximum up to 5 minutes.
• We recommend the presentations to not have more than 8-10 slides.

Poster Detailed Guidelines: Open to undergraduate & postgraduate students + 11th and 12th grade school students

• The standard format of a poster should include introduction, methods, results, conclusion, recommendations.
• The intention of a poster is to communicate original insights and research through a uniquely visual mode. It is not expected that a poster should contain all information you have on the topic.
• All text should not exceed 1000 words. Use short sentences, simple words, and bullets to illustrate your points.
• Artistry should not substitute for content.
• You may keep A0 as the intended size of the poster when designing.
• This is a submission-only category. Judges will evaluate posters on the basis of the originality of research, cohesiveness of methods and analysis, impact of conclusion and recommendations, and creativity in visual communication.

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Registration and Payment:

You may register as a presenter or a participant:

• Once you have been notified that your abstract for paper presentations have been accepted, you may register as a (virtual) presenter.
• You may also register as a participant if you wish to attend the colloquium. You will receive a certificate of attendance for the same. 

Payment links: This page will be updated and open to payments once acceptance notifications are sent out.

--- Contact: Please reach out to isrc.mila@dxb.manipal.edu for any queries you may have.