Conference Registration
Social Capital 2027 will be held at Heriot-Watt University Dubai from 18–20 March 2027, with a dedicated Virtual Day on 17 March 2027.
Participants can join us in Dubai for the full in-person conference experience or participate virtually with live and on-demand access to the conference program.
In-Person Conference
18–20 March 2027 · Heriot-Watt University Dubai
In-person registration provides the complete Social Capital 2027 experience, combining the academic and practice program with extensive opportunities for discussion and relationship-building.
| Registration Type | Early Bird | Standard |
|---|---|---|
|
ISCA Member (In-Person) |
$450 |
$700 |
|
Non-Member (In-Person) |
$650 |
$900 |
|
Student/NGO ISCA Member (In-Person)* |
$200 |
$260 |
|
Student/NGO Non-Member (In-Person)* |
$300 |
$360 |
Discounted Global Access rates are available for participants residing in eligible low- and lower-middle-income countries. See Global Access below.
In-person registration includes
- Full access to conference sessions from 18–20 March 2027 and the virtual day on 17 March, including keynote, research, practice/policy and other conference sessions
- Presentation of an accepted contribution, where applicable
- Full access to the Whova conference app
- Opportunities to connect directly with presenters, researchers, practitioners, and other participants
- A rich social program designed to encourage informal interaction and relationship-building
- Dedicated social connection activities
- Catering throughout the conference
- Access to available conference recordings and on-demand content
- Certificate of participation or presentation, as applicable
The in-person conference is designed to provide more than access to presentations. A central part of Social Capital 2027 is creating opportunities for participants to meet, exchange ideas, develop collaborations, and build relationships across disciplines, sectors, and countries.
Virtual Conference Pass
17–20 March 2027
While we encourage you to join in person, Social Capital 2027 also offers a substantial virtual participation experience for those joining from around the world.
Virtual participants can take part in the dedicated Virtual Day on 17 March and follow the in-person conference in Dubai from 18–20 March through live streaming and on-demand recordings.
| Registration Type | Early Bird | Standard |
|---|---|---|
|
ISCA Member (Virtual) |
$350 |
$600 |
|
Non-Member (Virtual) |
$550 |
$750 |
|
Student/NGO ISCA Member (Virtual)* |
$150 |
$200 |
|
Student/NGO Non-Member (Virtual)* |
$250 |
$300 |
|
Global Access (Virtual) |
Free |
Free |
Virtual registration includes
- Participation in the dedicated Virtual Day on 17 March 2027
- Virtual presentation of an accepted contribution, where applicable
- Live online access to conference sessions during the in-person program from 18–20 March
- On-demand access to available conference session recordings, including the keynote and other conference presentations
- Full access to the Whova conference app
- Opportunities to connect and communicate with in-person and virtual participants through Whova
- Dedicated virtual social connection activities
- Certificate of participation or presentation, as applicable
Presenting virtually
The 17 March Virtual Day will provide a full program of presentations specifically for remote presenters.
We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate presenters across different international time zones, although the ability to do so will necessarily be limited by the global nature of the program.
Some virtual presenters may also be invited to present remotely as part of the main conference program from 18–20 March, where this is appropriate to the program and scheduling.
The main Dubai conference program will generally run between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm Dubai time (GST, UTC+4).
Following the Dubai conference online
Virtual participants will be able to attend conference sessions via live stream during the main conference and subsequently access available recordings on demand.
We intend to provide live online access across the conference program. As with any live hybrid event, streaming is subject to venue, platform and technical limitations, and uninterrupted access to every session cannot be guaranteed.
On-demand recordings will allow virtual participants in different time zones to access sessions they are unable to attend live.
Virtual Conference Pass registration applies to participants presenting an accepted contribution and provides the associated presenter benefits and recognition.
Financial Aid
Like any conference, the 2027 Social Capital Conference incurs significant costs for the use of Whoova, the keynote speakers’ travel expenses, catering, etc. Nevertheless, it is important to us that no one is prevented from attending due to a lack of financial means. That is why we have introduced a tiered pricing structure that makes attendance significantly more affordable for students and NGO representatives. For participants from low-income and lower-middle-income countries, we have also introduced the Global Access Rate, which makes in-person attendance a further 30 per cent cheaper. A virtual presentation is even completely free for them. And purely online participation without a presentation is free for participants from all countries. We believe this is a very fair solution – even when compared to almost all other conferences we are aware of.
If you come from a developed or upper-middle-income country and, despite the various discounts, are still unable to afford the fee for online participation, please send us an email explaining your situation to socialcapital2027@hw.ac.uk. We will then consider a further reduction in the participation fee. Unfortunately, due to the costs involved, we are unable to offer any discount for in-person attendance under any circumstances.
Global Access Rate
Social Capital 2027 is committed to making international participation possible for people for whom standard international conference costs may present a substantial barrier.
The Global Access Rate is available to participants residing in countries classified by the World Bank as low-income or lower-middle-income economies.
Global Access benefits
Eligible participants receive:
- 30% off all in-person registration fees
- Complimentary virtual participation
- The same conference access and presenter benefits associated with the relevant registration type
Eligibility is determined using the latest World Bank country classifications available at the time of registration.
Global Access in-person rates
| Registration Type | Early Bird | Standard |
|---|---|---|
|
ISCA Member (Global Access) |
$315 |
$490 |
|
Non-Member (Global Access) |
$455 |
$630 |
|
Student/NGO ISCA Member (Global Access)* |
$140 |
$182 |
|
Student/NGO Non-Member (Global Access)* |
$210 |
$252 |
Virtual participation is complimentary for eligible Global Access participants.
Pre-Conference Workshops
A program of smaller, interactive workshops will also be offered in association with the conference.
| Registration Type | Standard |
|---|---|
|
Workshop – Standard |
$50 each |
|
Workshop – Global Access |
$35 each |
ISCA Member Rates
Members of the International Social Capital Association (ISCA) receive reduced registration rates for the conference.
Membership discounts apply to both in-person and virtual presenter registration.
Participants who are not currently members may join ISCA before registering in order to access the applicable member rate.
Student Registration
* Student rates are available to both full-time and part-time students, and to recent graduates who have not yet secured full-time paid employment.
Proof of student status will be required.
Reduced student rates are intended to make participation and presentation opportunities more accessible to students and emerging researchers.
Important Registration Information
- Early Bird registration closes on 4 December 2026
- All accepted presenters must register and pay the applicable registration fee by 4 December 2026 to be included in the conference program. Late submissions and registrations paid after this date will be considered only if space and scheduling permit, and may not be accepted or included in the final program.
- All registration fees are quoted in US dollars (USD) but paid in New Zealand dollars (NZD)
- In-person places may be subject to venue capacity
- Registration fees are non-transferable unless otherwise provided in the conference terms and conditions
- Live streaming and recordings are subject to reasonable technical and operational limitations
Choose How You Participate
Whether joining us in Dubai or online, Social Capital 2027 provides an opportunity to share research and practice, engage with new ideas, and connect with an international community interested in social capital and its application.
In-person participation provides the richest opportunity for face-to-face interaction, networking, informal conversation, and involvement in the conference’s social program. We strongly encourage you to attend in person, since it provides more opportunities to network and exchange ideas, which are often the most valuable part of a conference.
Virtual participation provides extensive access to the intellectual program of the conference, including a dedicated day for virtual presentations, live access to the Dubai program, on-demand recordings, and opportunities to engage with participants through Whova.
Questions?
For all questions or inquiries related to the conference, please contact socialcapital2027@hw.ac.uk.