GCA-EWCA 2026

Global Communications Association (GCA) & European Writing Centers Association (EWCA) Conference

June 01 - 05, 2026 | American University in Bulgaria

In June 2026, the Global Communications Association (GCA) and the European Writing Centers Association (EWCA) will come together for a unique joint event hosted by the American University in Bulgaria.

Each conference will feature its own Calls for Proposals and thematic focus:

GCA - "Global Communication Futures: Navigating Technology, Peace, and Resilience in a Connected World"

EWCA - "Back to the Roots of Writing Centers"

Participants will have the opportunity to attend both conferences, network with professionals, and engage in sessions and cultural experiences in Bulgaria.

Together, these two conferences invite scholars, practitioners, and educators from around the world  to explore how communication, writing, and knowledge exchange shape our global futures. Join us for a week of dialogue, collaboration, and discovery across disciplines. Be part of this rare convergence of international communities committed to connection, learning, and innovation.

Submission Guidelines

All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference. The following paper categories are welcome:

GCA TRACK + EWCA TRACK

ABSTRACT AND PAPER SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

• Abstracts: A 400-word abstract of the paper or panel proposal must be submitted.
• Format: Please submit two separate attachments in .pdf or .doc or .docx format:
  1. Abstract (with title, keywords, and references if applicable).
  2. Author information (name, institutional affiliation, email, and short bio).
• Submission: Abstracts should be submitted electronically via Easy Chair, or in the instance that does not work, you may send to: slondon@aubg.edu 
• Full Paper Requirements
  1. Full papers should not exceed 6,000–8,000 words including references. (GCA)
  2. All submissions must follow APA 7th edition (or other specified) citation and formatting guidelines.
  3. Use Times New Roman, 12 pt., double-spaced text, with standard margins.
  4. Figures and tables must be numbered, captioned, and referenced in the text.
  5. File format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or .pdf only.

EWCA TRACK (additional guidelines)

Submission Guidelines

We invite participants to propose creative, active sessions that engage with our theme and with each other. Beyond traditional conference papers, panels, workshops, and poster sessions, we welcome experimental and collaborative formats. Surprise us with new ideas for sharing, discussing, and practicing writing center work.

Proposals should include:–

• Title of session
• Preferred format (panel, workshop, presentation, poster, etc.)

List of Topics

Global Communications Association (GCA) Track

Participants are invited to submit either a 1) panel proposal or a 2) full paper on the following topics:

Track 1: Media, Democracy, and the Crisis of Public Discourse

• Political communication and democratic regression
• Populism, nationalism, and media narratives
• Platform power, disinformation, and election integrity
• Surveillance, censorship, and freedom of expression
• Hate speech, extremism, and online radicalization
• The erosion and rebuilding of trust in journalism
• Futures of media industries and alternative media economies
• Public interest media and new funding models
• Transparency, accountability, and media regulation
• The future of public broadcasting and independent media

Track 2: Advances in Computer Science and Information Systems for Global Communication and Resilience

• Artificial intelligence tools & applications in media
• Algorithmic governance, transparency, and bias
• Platformization and post-social media dynamics
• AI-Driven decision support systems for peacebuilding and conflict resolution
• Ethical AI frameworks for global media and information systems
• Big data analytics for crisis prediction and humanitarian response
• Machine learning models for disinformation and fake news detection
• Data science approaches to social media influence 
• Predictive analytics for global sustainability and SDGs monitoring
• Automation, digital labor, and the gig economy in media
• Generative AI and deep fakes
• Surveillance, capitalism, and privacy
• Virtual/augmented reality and immersive communication

Track 3: Communication in Crisis: Climate, Conflict, and Humanitarian Challenges

• Media representations of climate change and sustainability
• Migration, forced displacement, and refugee narratives
• Media and war: from terror to peacebuilding
• Crisis communication during pandemics and disasters
• Human rights, dignity, and advocacy in times of conflict
• Communication and resilience in fragile democracies

Track 4: Media, Culture, and Identities

• Intercultural communication in an age of migration and polarization
• Alternative and indigenous media practices
• Media worlds of trauma, memory, and resistance
• Popular culture, fandom, and participatory cultures
• Media archaeology and revisiting the past

European Writing Centers Association (EWCA) Track

Participants are invited to submit either a 1) panel proposal or a 2) full paper on the following topics:

Possible areas for contributions include but are not limited to:–

• Histories of writing centers,
• Writing programs,
• Peer tutoring models
• Writing processes
• Tutoring practices, and the legacies of the idea
• Core ideas, practices, or formats to which we always return
• Writing center formats: peer-tutor models versus professional models
• Writing consultations,
• Academic writing, and
• “help to self-help”
• Old ideas for a new age: renewing traditions in new contexts
• Emerging structures,
• Regional connections, and
• International collaborations
• Writing center funding and sustainability in times of limited resources

Committees

Program Committee

• Steven London
• Sandra Drumm
• Levin Arnsperger

Organizing committee

• Steven London
• Darina Sarelska
• Senem Konedareva

Invited Speakers

• Steph Hamill
• Franziska Leibetanz
• Joseph Franklin
• and others

Publication

GCA Track proceedings and selected papers will be considered for publication in affiliated academic outlets. Authors of high-quality submissions may also be invited to contribute to edited volumes or special issues aligned with the individual conference themes.

Venue

The conference will take place on the beautiful campus of the American University in Bulgaria.

There are numerous accommodation options for every budget, including hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs, and even staying in the campus residence halls. Through websites such as www.booking.com,  you can find several accommodation options, some of which are close to the university. The prices, which include VAT, are available on their websites. Please consider checking the latest information on the prices and note that the prices may increase or decrease depending on the currency rate and the facilities’ recent price revisions.

Participants may reside at the AUBG residence halls or reserve their hotel rooms in Blagoevgrad. Limited room availability is based on a first-come, first-served concept; rooms have a shared bath room and do not come with air conditioning;  therefore, participants are encouraged to secure their choice of accommodation and register for the conference as soon as possible.  It is likely that hotel rooms and the residence hall rooms will be reserved early.                   

Contact

All questions about submissions should be emailed to:

slondon@aubg.edu 

note: please include conference track (GCA or EWCA in your email title)