Skills4water Conference Guidelines

We invite professionals and representatives from a broad spectrum of entities within the water sector (marine or freshwater), including research centers, industry associations, private companies or academic institutions among others, to share their direct experiences and insights on the critical role of soft skills in their own career trajectories and their expectations regarding these competencies of future graduates from higher education. Your personal journey and perspectives on the evolving landscape of essential soft skills are highly valued at the Skills4water congress. The Skills4water congress will feature two main components: individual presentations, where participants from diverse backgrounds can discuss the impact of soft skills in their professional contexts; and a round table discussion to foster dialogue and collective learning across the sector.

The round table discussion will feature representatives from academia and companies that host internship students or hire recent graduates at the start of their professional careers, offering a space for dialogue across sectors sharing their views on the improvement and implementation of soft skills in students, professionals and employers within the water sector.

To participate in the congress, you must submit an abstract describing the importance of soft skills in your studies or professional career. The communications will preferably, but not exclusively, focus on the following soft skills: responsibility, motivation, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and flexibility/adaptability. Please, read the following information before you submit the abstract:

 Participants presentations

All participants must submit an abstract and a short presentation following the specific guidelines below. Participants are invited to share their personal journey, highlighting the development of their soft skills throughout their academic path — for example, during their PhD, master’s, bachelor’s thesis or professional activity. Reflect on the soft skills you initially had, how you developed them over time, and which ones you still aim to strengthen for your future career. Incorporate real-life examples and practical takeaways to inspire the audience.

In addition to individual participant experiences, we particularly encourage contributions from professionals who have recently supervised, hosted, or employed students or recent graduates. These presentations could focus on observations regarding their soft skills and provide valuable perspectives on improving the incorporation of these essential competencies into academic curricula.

Abstract guidelines:

• All abstracts must be written in English, using Times New Roman font with a size of 12 points, and with single-line spacing between the text.
• The title should be written in uppercase letters and must not exceed 30 The main text of the abstract should be a maximum of 300 words, excluding the title and the author’s details. Ensure that the content clearly reflects the key points of your presentation.
• There is no need to use special formatting or characters.
• Please use the Abstract Template Final Conference for more information and guidance.
• If you experience difficulties submitting your abstract through the website, please reach out to skills4water@uca.es for assistance.
• Submit your abstract at skills4water@uca.es

Presentation guidelines:

• The presentation of students participants should follow the following structure:
  • 1–2 slides: Your academic journey — where you started and where you are now.
  • 1–2 slides: Soft skills that were essential during your academic path and how you applied them.
  • 1–2 slides: Soft skills you identified as lacking or that you wish to develop further for your future career.
  • Each presentation should last around 5 minutes, followed by 5 minutes of Q&A.
  • Try to make the slides visually appealing.
• The presentation of professionals (companies, lecturers, researchers, etc) should follow the following structure:
  • 1-2 slides: Essential Soft Skills in Your Career Journey.
    • Reflecting on your professional path, which specific soft skills have been most instrumental in your career success and advancement?
    • Please provide concrete examples of how you have effectively applied these soft skills in various professional contexts.
  • 1-2 slides: Adapting and Implementing New Soft Skills:
    • Have you found it necessary to actively develop or implement new soft skills throughout your career? If so, what were these skills and what were the driving factors behind their adoption?
    • How do you approach the process of acquiring and integrating new soft skills into your professional practice?
  • 1-2 slides: Necessary Soft Skills for Future Graduates: Personal Development and Expectations:
    • Based on your professional experience and future outlook, which soft skills do you consider absolutely necessary for students entering the professional world today and in the coming years?
    • Are these the same soft skills you are actively developing or strengthening in your own professional development? If so, please elaborate on why these skills are paramount for both individual success and organizational needs.

Content Recommendations:

• Make it audience-relevant: include tools, tips, or strategies they can apply.
• Avoid dense text; use visuals and storytelling.

Technical Requirements:

• Only one abstract is permitted per presenting author, with exceptions made for second submissions regarding experiences mentoring students.
• The submission deadline of 23:59 pm on 16 June 2025 will be strictly enforced. Abstracts received after this date might not be accepted.

• Supported formats: PowerPoint (.pptx) or PDF.

Presenter Commitment

By submitting an abstract, you confirm your willingness to present as assigned. Your submission also grants the organizing team permission to include your abstract in the official event materials (e.g., program, abstract booklet). Presentations may be scheduled at any point during the congress sessions

The Organizing Committee is pleased to announce an award for the most outstanding presentation made by a student. The recipient will be granted a financial award, which may be used to pay the registration fees for a future academic congress or specialization course or allocated to support travel expenses in furtherance of their scholarly development, before December 2026. For the award, the presentations will be evaluated based on the following criteria: Clarity and organization, content and relevance, originality and creativity, communication, audience engagement, and time management.

All participants will receive a certificate of attendance.

Round Table Discussions

Structure:

• Duration: 90 minutes, including a 10–15 minute open Q&A.
• 3–5 speakers with diverse backgrounds and viewpoints.
• One moderator to guide the discussion and keep time (to be announced).

Panelists’ Role:

• Prepare 2–3 key points or examples to share.
• Listen actively and build on each other’s ideas.
• Avoid lengthy monologues – keep answers brief and insightful.