1st Swimming Education and Aquatic Literacy Research Symposium + ALFAC Closing Ceremony

1st Swimming Education and Aquatic Literacy Research Symposium

During the symposium both international and national experts can present their research findings and/or practical insights through an oral or a poster presentation in one of the following themes:

• Teaching swimming, “can swim” and developing aquatic literacy
• Assessment of swimming, “can swim” and aquatic literacy
• Policy and infrastructure for swimming and aquatic literacy
• Exploration of future research opportunities in "can swim" and aquatic literacy

The abstract submission deadline is May 31st, 2025. You can send an abstract by email (aquaticliteracy@vub.be), strictly following the abstract guidelines mentioned below.

After the abstract screening phase, conducted by the ALFAC consortium (review board), decisions regarding abstract (non)acceptance will be sent to all applicants by July 10th, 2025. Since time for oral presentations is limited, the ALFAC consortium will select 15 individual abstracts for an oral presentation (10 min.), whereas the other accepted abstracts will be assigned a poster presentation.

Abstract guidelines

While maintaining an unstructured format, your abstract should touch upon the following aspects:
Relevance: Clearly convey the importance of your topic in the context of swimming education and/or aquatic literacy.
Purpose: Briefly describe the goal or intent behind your research, project, or initiative.
Approach: Highlight your methodologies, practices, or theoretical frameworks. If presenting practical insights, share notable experiences, challenges, or strategies.
Outcomes: Include findings, insights, or take-home messages from your work. If still in progress, clearly outline expected results or implications.
Impact: Reflect on the significance of your contribution to the field and its potential to advance knowledge, improve practices, or inspire innovation.

To ensure uniformity, please carefully read and strictly follow the instructions below. If you have any questions, you can contact us at aquaticliteracy@vub.be.

1. Use the abstract template provided on this website (see below).
2. No changes should be made to the lay-out of the template itself
   1. Do not change the line spacing, remove or add white spaces
   2. Use the correct font and font size as indicated in the template 
3. Your abstract should be fully written in English
4. The abstract's main content should not exceed 300 words (i.e., title, authors, affiliations, references and correspondence not included)
5. All text in the template that is between asterisks (***…***) should be removed from the template before submitting the abstract.
6. A maximum of 3 references (APA style) can be added to the abstract
7. No images, graphs or figures can be added to the abstract
8. Save the abstract as a Word document (.docx), entitled: “Name_Firstname_Affiliation”
9. Send the final abstract to aquaticliteracy@vub.be in due time, taking into account the submission deadline of May 31st, 2025. 
   Note: Indicate your presentation preference upon submission in your e-mail: oral presentation / poster presentation / no preference

ALFAC Closing Ceremony

For 3 years, the European ‘ALFAC’ Erasmus+ Sport project brought together researchers, educators and institutional stakeholders from across Europe, united in their mission to enhance the quality of aquatic education. This initiative tackles the critical challenge of improving Aquatic Literacy (AL) among children aged 6-12 years. The project aimed to enhance children's safety during water-based activities by equipping them with essential aquatic skills and knowledge, while also encouraging their participation in aquatic activities in a safe and sustainable way. Accordingly, we warmly invite you to join the presentations of the ALFAC consortium during our Closing Ceremony, where we will dive deeper into the innovative steps taken, reveal the project's impactful results, and explore its potential to shape the future of aquatic education. Do not miss this opportunity to attend this unique event to be inspired and discover how ALFAC is making waves across Europe and beyond!

Registration information

How to register?

1. Online registration form

Please complete the online registration form below.

Deadline: August 10th, 2025

2. Registration fees

Please choose the option that best suits your schedule. Although physical attendance is encouraged to enhance engagement and networking opportunities, virtual arrangements are also available for the entire day or for the afternoon.                                                                                                                                                                                             

Type of attendance                                                                               Fee           Capacity

Full day: Symposium + Closing ceremony – PHYSICALLY              €100           Max. 110                         
Including 2 coffee breaks, lunch and reception

         NOTE: Symposium presenters in the morning are                   €75  
         obliged to choose this option (with a discount of €25)

Full day: Symposium + Closing ceremony – ONLINE                        €20             Unlimited                                            

Afternoon: Closing ceremony only – PHYSICALLY                             €35            Max. 110           
Including 1 coffee break and reception                                                                                                                            

Afternoon: Closing ceremony only – ONLINE                                      Free           Unlimited                                                                                                                      

Who should register?

This event is open to:

• Researchers in aquatic education and literacy.
• Teachers and coaches specializing in swimming and water safety.
• Policymakers, non-profits, and community leaders in aquatic programs.
• Students and professionals interested in aquatic education.

Note:

• If you have submitted an abstract, you can delay your registration until you have been notified of its acceptance status. Presenters (both oral and poster) are guaranteed a spot in addition to the 110 available entries.
• Due to the limited capacity of oral presentations, your presentation type may change to ‘poster presentation’. We will inform you in time.
• As a presenter (oral/poster), you must PHYSICALLY attend the morning session of this event in Brussels (Belgium) on September 18th, 2025. Presenting online will not be possible. 
• Due to limited physical attendance capacity, registration will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

We look forward to welcoming you!

How to travel?

By plane

If you are traveling from abroad, the easiest way is to fly to Brussels Airport (Zaventem). At Brussels Airport you can take a direct train to Brussels North (duration: around 12 minutes).

By train

The venue is within walking distance of the Brussels North railway station. To check train times: https://www.belgiantrain.be/en

Metro/bus/tram

The venue is easily accessible by metro/bus/tram. Visit the website https://www.stib-mivb.be/ to find directions. 

By car

If you choose to come by car, you can use the underground parking: Entrance via Antwerpsesteenweg 59, 1000 Brussel.