International Association of Buddhist Universities

This is a call for papers for the 2010 United Nations Day of Vesak Conference to be hosted by the Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University along with some patronage from the ITRI of Japan, during the celebrations for the 7th United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) held in Bangkok, Thailand from 23-25 May 2010.  The conference and celebrations are expected to draw a gathering of 3000 people - including leading scholars and Buddhist leaders from all of the Buddhist traditions around the world.  The academic conference, held on the second day of events, is being organized by the International Association of Buddhist Universities (IABU).
Every year since the resolution passed by the United Nation’s General Assembly on 15 December 1999 - the thrice-sacred day of Vesak (celebrating the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha Gotama) is celebrated internationally.  Bangkok, Thailand has hosted this august international gathering five of the previous six occasions, and will again host the 7th UNDV event, under the patronage of the Supreme Sangha Council and the Royal Government of the Kingdom of Thailand, for 2010/2553 BE.

Papers are now being invited for the IABU Academic Conference on “Global Recovery – The Buddhist Perspective.”  We encourage the interdisciplinary study and welcome proposals from scholars in all fields related the main and sub-themes of the conference, which include the following, again:

Main Theme: Global Recovery – The Buddhist Perspective
Sub-themes:

• Global Recovery through Mental Well-Being
• Global Recovery through Buddhist Education
• Global Recovery through Harmonious Coexistence
• Global Recovery through Buddhist Ecology
• Global Recovery through Engaged Buddhism

Only fifty papers will be invited for presentation during this academic conference, and as a reward, will be published in our 7th UNDV Conference Text on “Global Recovery – The Buddhist Perspective” – to be available on the day of the academic conference.  Papers selected for publication will be those that combine:

• innovative theoretical perspectives,
• clarity of organization,
• an accessible prose style,
• and significant research in primary resources

...to produce an account that deals with relevant topic material, Buddhist texts and the readers in meaningful ways.

TITLE PROPOSAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• Please submit a title and abstracts of no more than one single-spaced page, along with a one-page CV or a 250-word biography.
• Abstract Proposals must be received by 06 November 2009.  We will send confirmation of the receipt of your proposal and will respectfully inform all authors of the status of their abstracts/proposals. 
• The proposals will be reviewed by the UNDV Editorial Committee.
• You will receive confirmation of your participation by 16 November 2009.

• Please send all title proposals and abstracts in Microsoft Word Format File via email to the International Association of Buddhist Universities secretariat-manager and editorial committee, Mr. Dion Peoples:  manager.secretariat@iabu.org

 
Call for Papers issued: 02 October 2009
Deadline for Abstracts: 6 November 2009
Notification of Acceptance: 16 November 2009
Final Full-Article Deadline: 19 March 2010
Invitations to Conference, sent by: 26 March 2010

No late papers will be accepted – to ensure publication deadlines are respectfully met and editorial/quality-control measures can be implemented.  Again: all articles must undergo ‘scrutiny’ – by our UNDV Editorial Committee.  Once our reviews have been completed, and articles undergo formatting/revisions, our printing deadlines must be met, to be respectfully issued to all dignitaries, observers, delegates, panelists and students, etc. – for the conference. 

PAPER SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• Submitted Papers should be additionally readied for verbal-presentation or for PowerPoint presentation during panel and workshop sessions.  Submitted papers are refereed and selected on the basis of quality and relevance to the main theme and sub-themes of UNDV 2010 conference and celebrations.
• Papers should be from 8-12 pages, preferred font is ‘Times EXT Roman’ (for papers with Pali/Sanskrit diacritic markings) and should be accompanied by an abstract of approximately 500 words.  Please download this font and use it during the writing of your article: http://www.bcca.org/services/fonts/  -- articles will be returned if there are undisplayed diacritical-markings. 
• Along with the articles, please send a professional personal-photograph – to be used on your conference-identification badge. 
• Please note that all papers will be subjected to editorial scrutiny, and might be rejected for specific circumstances.  Rejected papers may be rewritten, following committee recommendations. 

Note: Only accepted academic articles will be published, following the Editorial Committee’s review-processes, for the 7th UNDV Conference.  

Editorial Committee Manager: Mr. Dion Peoples (Lecturer – Faculty of Buddhism, and International Association of Buddhist Universities Secretariat Manager, MCU-Wangnoi, Ayutthaya Province, Thailand).  E-mail: manager.secretariat@iabu.org

If you are invited to attend our international conference, it is our honor to invite you to attend the UNDV 2010 Conference and Celebrations.  Your arrival should be on 22 May 2010, and departures on 26 May 2010.  Any additional longer-term stays shall be on your own expenses.  Notifications to the accepted scholars to present at the UNDV 2010 Conference and Celebrations will be sent by 26 March 2010.  Economy-class airfare will be reimbursed upon arrival, and food and hotel-accommodations in Bangkok will be sponsored by MCU.

We would be honored if you could grace us with your valuable contribution and presence.

Yours sincerely

Most Ven. Prof. Dr. Dharmakosajarn
Rector, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University
Chairman, International Council for United Nations Day of Vesak
Chairman, International Association of Buddhist Universities