Chair of Doctoral Consortium Guy Gable

Nominations are invited for the ACIS 2007 Doctoral Consortium to be held Tuesday, December 4th 2007 in conjunction with the 2007 ACIS Conference in Toowoomba, Queensland.  The Consortium provides a unique opportunity for doctoral students in Information Systems and related areas to present their work and their plans to an audience of peers and faculty.

The Consortium is conducted as a constructive event to provide valuable feedback on the Ph.D. research process. The Consortium will immediately precede the ACIS 2007 Conference.  The Consortium will be held on Tuesday December 4th.

The formal Consortium activities will be preceded by a dinner for Consortium attendees and the invited Ph.D. faculty on Monday 3rd December at 7 pm. The aim of the dinner, which is generously sponsored by the Australian Council of Professors and Heads of Information Systems (ACPHIS), is to welcome the attendees and the distinguished faculty.  The Consortium will also provide lunch for attendees on December 4th.

Information about the ACIS 2007 Conference is progressively available at:  http://www.acis2007.usq.edu.au/  

Objectives of the Consortium
The Doctoral Consortium will provide students with an opportunity to:

• Present their research work in a relaxed and supportive environment
• Receive feedback and suggestions from peers and experienced faculty
• Gain an overview of the breadth and depth of IS research
• Obtain insight into directions for IS research taken by other doctoral candidates
• Discuss concerns about research, supervision, the job market, and other issues
• Network with peers and future colleagues

The ideal Consortium candidates should have chosen their theoretical approach, developed their methodology, and started their empirical work, but should at the time of the Consortium have at least 6-12 months work remaining (possibly more) before expected completion.

Costs
The Consortium is sponsored by University of Southern Queensland and the Australian Council of Heads and Professors of Information Systems (ACPHIS). There is no charge for the consortium. A welcome reception will be held on Monday 3rd December 2007. Lunch and morning and afternoon teas will be provided during the Consortium on Tuesday 4th December. Though the Consortium will provide no financial support for accommodation or travel expenses, low-cost accommodation is available at McGregor College, details of which will be supplied on acceptance to the Consortium. Institutions are encouraged to provide financial assistance to successful nominees.
http://www.usq.edu.au/accommodation/collegelife/pictures/mcgregor.htm

Submission Procedures
The number of attendees will be limited.  To be eligible for the Consortium the student must be a current doctoral student within a recognized university.  Submissions will be reviewed by a group of ACIS Consortium faculty for suitability for the consortium. 

The language of the consortium is English.  All submitted materials must be in English.  Attendees must have sufficient proficiency in English to allow them to participate in the academic discussions of the consortium.

If you wish to be considered for the Consortium you need to submit the following by Monday September 24th:

1. A 2,000 word (approximately) extended abstract, including a title, and outlining the research topic, research question(s), key background literature, proposed methodology and current stage of the research.
2. A cover page showing the student’s full name, affiliation (university and school/department), and all contact details including name, mailing and e-mail addresses, and telephone and fax numbers.  The student should also indicate the name(s) of his or her principal faculty supervisors.
3. An (emailed) letter of recommendation from the student’s PhD supervisor or Head of School or equivalent, supporting the student’s nomination for the Consortium is also required.

Send this by email to Professor Guy Gable at g.gable@qut.edu.au by Monday, September 24th. Prospective participants will be informed of the outcome by Monday, October 8th.   I look forward to receiving your nomination and your prospective participation in the 2007 Doctoral Consortium.