 | 1st ACATA Conference: The 1st Biennial International Conference of the Association of Computer Adaptive Testing in Africa University of Ilorin Ilorin, Nigeria, October 2-6, 2023 |
| Conference web page | https://acata.org/2023-acata-conference/ |
| Submission link | https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=1stacataconference |
| Conference program | https://easychair.org/smart-program/1stACATAConference/ |
| Abstract registration deadline | August 31, 2023 |
| Submission deadline | September 30, 2023 |
General Information
The Association of Computer Adaptive Testing in Africa (ACATA) is an international professional organization of educational researchers and assessment experts committed to excellence in educational research and standardised assessment practices. For more detailed information on ACATA, please visit the website at https://acata.org/.
ACATA holds her maiden annual conference in West Africa, where her secretariat is currently located. The conference serves as an open forum for interdisciplinary discussion and scholarly exchange of ideas among educational researchers and assessment practitioners. Conference participants can present their original research and draw implications for the broad educational and standardised assessment community. The conference programme consists of empirical studies accepted through a blind review process. Additionally, invited presentations, symposia, and panel discussions feature the annual conference theme. Selected high-quality papers presented at the annual conference would be invited to submit to the association's Journal (JoCATiA, a peer-reviewed online journal). The 2023 ACATA Annual International Conference will occur at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, from October 2-6, 2023.
Conference Theme
The theme of the 1st international conference is "Focusing Africa on Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) for Assessment and in the Fourth Industrial Revolution". Adaptive testing is a form of computer-based testing that adjusts the difficulty level of questions based on each examinee's responses. This allows for a more accurate assessment of an examinee's ability and a more efficient use of testing time. In the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), CAT has the potential to play a crucial role in accurate ability estimation relevant for the 21st Century demands. As industries become more automated and reliant on technology, educational assessment must adapt to new technologies such as CAT for process improvements, leading to reliable certification. This year's conference theme stimulates discussions around empirical research to investigate various CAT possibilities to ensure 4IR-compliant assessment practices. We are particularly interested in proposals that address the conference theme in the following areas:
Area 1: Machine learning algorithms for CAT
Area 2: Projects involving Applications and implementations of CAT
Area 3: Technological Innovations for Deploying CAT
Area 4: Simulation studies to support Operational CAT
Area 5: AI Platforms for Electronic Item Banking with CAT Functionalities
Area 6: Educational Assessment and the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Area 7: Open Sorce Platforms for CAT
Important note for students: To support graduate students' research, ACATA will provide up to $50 conference registration support to a maximum of three students to present their research findings at the maiden annual meeting. Once the paper proposal is accepted, the Lead Author can apply for conference registration support. ACATA strongly encourages postgraduate students to participate and present their CAT research findings at the conference. This is a great opportunity for students to interact with scholars in the field and obtain feedback for their scholarly work.
The Extended Abstracts
Description: The extended abstract involves a single paper with the following components: (a) Background, (b) Purpose and Significance of the Study, (c) Theoretical Framework, (d) Method, (e) Results or Preliminary Findings, (d) Discussion/Conclusion and (f) Reference list (In line with APA 7th edition).
Length: All extended abstracts should include a title- of 15 words or fewer (the titles for all accepted extended abstracts will be included in the conference program) with no more than 900 words excluding references. Please note that WE WILL NOT CONSIDER any proposal that exceeds the word limit.
Language/Format: Extended abstract should be prepared in English (British). All proposals must be submitted according to the prompts in the online submission system. You will be asked to upload a Word document (.doc or .docx) including the required components specified above. Do not include identifying information (e.g., author, affiliation) in the proposal and the filename (e.g., initials), as all submissions will undergo an anonymous review.
Eligibility: Both ACATA members and non-members may submit extended abstracts for review. An individual may not appear as the first author on more than two proposals. The proposal must present original research that has not been published elsewhere. If the proposal content is adapted from a previously presented or published study, it must include significant new insights to be considered. Each extended abstract may have no more than five authors.
Multiple submissions: You may submit a proposal submitted elsewhere but not accepted at the time of submission to the ACATA conference. Once the proposal has been accepted elsewhere, you must notify the Conference Chair to withdraw your submission immediately. You may not present the paper with the same content at multiple conferences.
Extended Abstract Submission Information
Extended abstracts are accepted beginning May 1, 2023. All proposals must be submitted electronically before the due date through the online submission system at https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=1stacataconference.
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Important Dates |
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Submission of extended abstracts |
The online application facility opens on 1 May, 2023 |
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Deadline for submission of papers |
25 September 2023 |
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Notification of paper acceptance |
30 September 2023 |
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Deadline for application for student conference reg. support |
31 July 2023 |
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Response to applicants for student conference reg. support |
15 August 2023 |
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Conference registration deadline |
30 September 2023 |
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Conference Dates |
2-6 October 2023 |
Proposals submitted by fax, mail, or email will NOT be accepted.
Special Journal Issues
Papers presented at the 1st ACATA International Conference will be considered for publication in a Special Issue of the Journal of Computer Adaptive Testing in Africa. All submitted papers will have the opportunity to be considered for this Special Journal Issue. The paper will be selected during the peer review process and at the conference presentation stage. Submitted papers must not be under consideration by any other journal or publication. The final decision for paper selection will be made based on peer review reports by the Guest Editors and the Editor-in-Chief jointly. Selected full-text papers will be published online free of charge.
Conference Fees and Registration
All conference participants with accepted papers are to pay the stipulated conference registration fees as follows:
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Registration Fees |
Physical Attendance |
Online Attendance |
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Academics |
Students |
Academics |
PhD students |
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Middle High-income African countries |
70USD |
50USD |
35USD |
25USD |
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Middle Low-income African countries |
45USD |
25USD |
35USD |
15USD |
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Low-income African countries |
20USD |
15USD |
10USD |
5USD |
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Non-African countries |
200USD |
100USD |
150USD |
80USD |
All delegates interested in participating as non-paper presenters would also pay the prescribed fees.
Conference Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities
The 1st ACATA International Conference offers the opportunity to become a conference Testing Organisation Sponsor (National and International) or exhibitor (National and International). These are described below:
Testing Organisation Sponsor- National (N500,000)
This option is for testing organizations operating within Nigeria, which will be explicitly acknowledged during the presidential address and can include company literature in the attendee registration area. The organisation's logo will be prominently at the bottom of the initial session announcement screen of plenary sessions and on the conference website. It will redirect a click on the logo to the sponsor's website. You may include a 200-word profile of your organization for the website. Also, your organisation can send three staff members for the event, and this sponsorship will cover the conference registration fees of the staff.
Testing Organisation Sponsor- International (USD$3000)
This option is for testing organizations operating outside Nigeria, which will be explicitly acknowledged during the presidential address and will be able to include company literature in the attendee registration area. The organisation's logo will be prominently at the bottom of the initial session announcement screen of plenary sessions and on the conference website. It will redirect a click on the logo to the sponsor's website. You may include a 200-word profile of your organization for the website. Also, your organisation can send three staff members for the event, and this sponsorship will cover the conference registration fees of the staff.
Exhibitor - National (N300,000)
This option is for non-testing organizations operating within Nigeria, which will be explicitly acknowledged during the presidential address and will be able to include company literature in the attendee registration area. The organisation's logo will be prominently at the bottom of the initial session announcement screen of plenary sessions and on the conference website. It will redirect a click on the logo to the sponsor's website. You may include a 100-word profile of your organization for the website.
Exhibitor- International (USD$1000)
This option is for non-testing organizations operating outside Nigeria, which will be explicitly acknowledged during the presidential address and will be able to include company literature in the attendee registration area. The organisation's logo will be prominently at the bottom of the initial session announcement screen of plenary sessions and on the conference website. It will redirect a click on the logo to the sponsor's website. You may include a 100-word profile of your organization for the website.
Please download the Conference Sponsorship Request HERE.
Opportunity for partnership is also open. Please download the Conference Partnership Request HERE.
International Steering Committee
Dr. Musa A. Ayanwale; University of Johannesburg, South Africa (Southern Africa)
Dr Mohammad Ramdan; Fayoum University, Egypt (North Africa)
Dr Bachir Adda; University Of Mustapha Stambouli, Algeria (North Africa)
Victor Peter Nkungula; Malawi Adventist University, Malawi (East/Central Africa)
Dr Eric Asare; West African Examinations Council, Ghana (West Africa)
Dr Andrews Cobbinah; University of Cape CoastCape Coast, Ghana (West Africa)
National Steering Committee
Dr Maxwell E. Uduafemhe; NECO- National Examinations Council, Nigeria
Dr Esther Bamidele; NECO- National Examinations Council, Nigeria
Dr Yusuf Olayinka Sogbesan; Al-Hikmah University, Kwara State, Nigeria
Dr Simeon Ariyo; University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Local Organising Committee
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For questions, comments, or suggestions for this conference, please get in touch with the Local Organising Committee (LOC):
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Sponsors
| Sponsors |
| Assessment System Corporation, USA |