Eastern ARC Conference 2025

The focus for this year's Eastern Academic Research Consortium conference is ‘Sanctuary Solidarities’ and the call for proposals is now open. 

The Eastern Arc region has been shaped by migration and movement, and for centuries has offered refuge for those seeking sanctuary. Never has this been more important — but also more challenging — than now. With the rise in far-right populism, violent conflict and the bolstering of borders, our conference this year will look at the part university staff and students can and should play in forging solidarities with those seeking sanctuary, but also at how they should participate in contested and increasingly polarised debates about migration.

As the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) celebrates its 75th anniversary, and the Cities of Sanctuary movement celebrates its 20th, this conference is a timely opportunity to hear from a broad range of stakeholders from within our region and beyond, to learn from their experiences, and to encourage positive and creative conversations between speakers and groups with differing viewpoints. 

Conference themes

The conference will look at different types of solidarity within this space, and a series of breakout discussions will focus on: 

• Academic solidarity
• Community solidarity
• Cultural solidarity
• Political solidarity
• Legal and human rights solidarity
• Health and wellbeing solidarity 

Call for proposals

If you would like to either lead or take part in one of our breakout sessions, you can submit a proposal here. The closing date for submissions is 2 June 2025.

We want to encourage a wide range of voices and perspectives, including (but not restricted to): 

• Academics and researchers working on issues of migration and sanctuary; conflict within, across, at and about borders; and the causes and consequences of political polarisation; 
• Students and sanctuary scholars;
• Community groups; 
• Politicians and policymakers; 
• Cultural organisations;
• Health workers; 
• Activists;
• Legal practitioners and human rights advocates.

We also encourage interdisciplinary and collaborative proposals that bridge academic research with practical implementation and community experience. 

You can apply either to lead a session in your own right, or express an interest in taking part in any of the sessions, indicating the expertise and knowledge that you would bring to the subject. 

Registration

The programme will be finalised once the proposals have been evaluated. Following this, registration will open in early July with a deadline of 11 August.  

The conference will be free and open to all, but places are strictly limited and provided on a first come, first served basis. Transport will be available from the other three EARC universities (UEA, Essex, Kent) to Sussex on the day. 

For further information, contact info@easternarc.ac.uk