The Success Story of the 13th International Conference on Social Sciences (ICOSS) 2026
The 13th International Conference on Social Sciences (ICOSS) 2026, organized by The International Institute of Knowledge Management (TIIKM), Sri Lanka, was successfully held from 7th–8th September 2026 at Four Star by Trans Hotel, Bali, Indonesia, in a hybrid format. The conference was hosted under the theme “Pathways to Inclusion, Empowerment, and Peace in a Turbulent World.”
ICOSS 2026 brought together 121 participants from 18 countries, including academics, researchers, scholars, policymakers, students, and professionals from diverse disciplines. The conference received 433 research abstracts and featured 19 physical and virtual research sessions, creating a dynamic platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, knowledge exchange, and international collaboration. Participants explored pressing global challenges related to social inclusion, economic empowerment, sustainable development, governance, human rights, technology, and societal transformation.
The conference featured insightful keynote and plenary speeches, research presentations, panel discussions, Research Roundtables with Theme Leads, and an engaging Human Library Session. These activities were complemented by pre-conference workshops, publication opportunities, the Bilateral Academic Forum, and networking initiatives that encouraged meaningful connections and potential institutional partnerships across borders.
ICOSS 2026 further strengthened its legacy as an international platform for advancing social science research and collaboration. Through the exchange of innovative ideas, diverse perspectives, and practical insights, the conference inspired continued research, stronger academic networks, and a shared commitment to building more inclusive, empowered, peaceful, and sustainable societies worldwide.
Paper Submission Tracks
Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Livelihoods
History and International Relations
Development Studies, Geography, and Social Transformation
Sociology and Social Inclusion
Technology, Ethics, and Human Society
Law, Governance, and Human Rights
Meet Our Conference Chair
Distinguished Prof. Steven Ratuva
Conference Chair
Pro-Vice Chancellor
Pacific Director
Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies
University of Canterbury
New Zealand
Meet Our Conference Chair
Professor Steven Ratuva, an award-winning political sociologist and global interdisciplinary scholar, is Director of the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies. He was awarded the 2020 Metge Medal by the Royal Society of New Zealand -Te Apārangi, the country’s highest award in social science research excellence. He was also co-winner of the 2019 University of Canterbury research medal, the university’s highest academic honour. He became the first Pacific Islander and foreign national to win both esteemed and highly contested awards. He is also recipient of a number of research grants by Marsden, NZ Health Research Council, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others, totaling a few million dollars.
He was a recipient of a Fulbright Senior Fellowship and was Fulbright professor at the University of California (LA), Duke University and Georgetown University in 2018. He is Chair of the International Political Science Association research committee on Security, Conflict and Democratization and former President of the Pacific Islands Political Studies Association. He has transdisciplinary across sociology, anthropology, political science, development studies, economics, philosophy and history. With a PhD from the Institute of Development Studies (University of Sussex), he has published widely on a range of issues Pacific societies and culture, Read More…
Speakers & Theme Leads
Dexter R. Voisin, PhD, MSW, LCSW
Keynote Speaker - Physical
Dean
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Case Western Reserve University
USA
Prof. M. Niaz Asadullah
Keynote Speaker - Physical
Senior Fellow (Visiting),
Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, Malaysia
Prof. Anthony Clayton
Keynote Speaker - Virtual
Professor
Caribbean Sustainable Development
University of the West Indies
Jamaica
History and International Relations
Emeritus Professor Carlyle A. Thayer
theme lead
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
The University of New South Wales
Canberra, Australia
Technology, Ethics, and Human Society
Dr. Mercy Karuniah Jesuvadian
theme lead
Asst Head, Psychology, and Child and Human Development Department
National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Development Studies, Geography, and Social Transformation
Prof. M. Niaz Asadullah
theme lead
Senior Fellow (Visiting),
Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, Malaysia
Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Livelihoods
Dr. Martha Tri Lestari
theme lead
Vice Dean, Academic Affairs & Research Support
School of Communication & Social Sciences
Telkom University
Indonesia
Sociology and Social Inclusion
Assoc. Prof. Rosemary Nakijoba
theme lead
Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences
Arts and Humanities
Muteesa I Royal University
Kampala, Uganda
Law, Governance and Human Rights
Dr. Heama Latha Nair
theme lead
Senior Lecturer in Law
School of Law and Governance
Taylor’s University
Malaysia
Steering Committee Members
Prof. Deepak Kumar
Lead - Community Engagement (Virtual)
Former Professor
History of Science and Education
Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
Dr. Mercy Karuniah Jesuvadian
Lead - Professional Engagement (Physical)
Asst Head, Psychology, and Child and Human Development Department
National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Dr. Khalachuchi S. Flores - Caballes
Lead - Strategic Outreach (Physical)
Dean of the Social Work
Department at the University of Cebu
Philippines
Dr. Samuel Bangura
Lead - Strategic Visibility and Positioning (Virtual)
Mangosuthu University of Technology
South Africa
Conference Venue
Bali, Indonesia
Pre-Conference Workshop
Prof. Luke Rose
Director of the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (Africa),
College of Business & Economics, University of Johannesburg.
Workshop on "Selecting the right journals and structuring articles for publication"
Dr. Ahmad Fahim Zulkifli
Department of Physical & Health Education / Centre of Risk Management
Faculty of Education, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), MALAYSIA.
Workshop on "Tips to Avoid Desk Rejection"
Topic Overview:
“Tips to Avoid Desk Rejection” is a crucial session for researchers and academic writers looking to enhance their chances of having their manuscripts accepted for publication. Desk rejection occurs when a submitted manuscript is immediately rejected by a journal’s editorial team without undergoing peer review, usually because it doesn’t meet the journal’s basic requirements or quality standards. This topic provides valuable insights into how to avoid common mistakes that lead to desk rejection and increase the likelihood of successful manuscript submission. It covers key strategies for improving manuscript quality, aligning it with the journal’s scope, and preparing a submission that stands out to editors.
Prof. Jonathan Matusitz
Professor in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) at the University of Central Florida.
Workshop on "The 10 Steps to Select the Best Journals in the Social Sciences"
Topic Overview:
Selecting the best journals for publishing social science research is crucial for enhancing the visibility and impact of your work. With numerous journals available, the process can be overwhelming. This topic focuses on the essential steps researchers should follow to identify and choose the right journals that align with their research goals, audience, and academic standards. The process not only involves evaluating journal relevance but also considering factors such as peer review quality, impact factor, accessibility, and submission guidelines.
Conference Day Special Features
Distinguished Prof. Steven Ratuva
Conference Chair
Pro-Vice Chancellor
Pacific Director
Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies
University of Canterbury
New Zealand
Human Library Session: Leadership & Youth Empowerment
Step into an interactive, story‑driven space where leadership is explored through real experiences rather than theory. This session brings together youth, adults, and elders to highlight how mentorship, inclusive leadership, and community‑rooted values shape empowered young leaders. Participants will discover practical ways every generation can contribute to stronger leadership ecosystems.
Panel Discussion: Global Crises and Community Resilience
Emeritus Professor Carlyle A. Thayer
Moderator
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
The University of New South Wales
Canberra, Australia
Prof. M. Niaz Asadullah
Panelist
Senior Fellow (Visiting),
Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, Malaysia
Dr. Mercy Karuniah Jesuvadian
Panelist
Asst Head, Psychology, and Child and Human Development Department
National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Dexter R. Voisin, PhD, MSW, LCSW
Panelist
Dean
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Case Western Reserve University
USA
Distinguished Prof. Steven Ratuva
Panelist
Pro-Vice Chancellor
Pacific Director
Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies
University of Canterbury
New Zealand
Publication Opportunities in ICOSS 2026
Featured Peer – Reviewed Journals
PublisHelp Service
Do you need our support to access the scholarly standards of your paper as well as to develop the paper? Click here to refer the Publishelp service for the Social Science Conference 2026.
ICOSS Global Partner Network
Co - Hosting Partner
Dwijendra University
Bali, Indonesia
Academic Partners
Shankarrao Chavan Law College
Pune, India
University of Cebu
Philippines
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
Sri Lanka
University of Canterbury
New Zealand
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
Malaysia
School of Communication & Social Sciences, Telkom University
Indonesia
Govt. College Women University
Sialkot, Pakistan
University of South Africa
South Africa
University of the Free State (UFS)
South Africa
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Nelson Mandela University
South Africa
Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law, Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP)
University of Venda
South Africa
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Malaysia
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Zululand
South Africa
Tour Partner
Globeenjoy Tours
Event Partner
TIKM Events
Organized By
The International Institute of Knowledge Management
Blog
Building Knowledge Through Academic Partnerships In an increasingly interconnected world characterised by complex social challenges, academic partnerships have become indispensable to the …
Beyond the Conference Hall: Memories and Lessons from ICOSS I was once just a child who dreamed of one day representing my …
A Journey Beyond Academia: Memories from ICOSS 2024 by Dr. Elymar A. Pascual In October 2024, I was blessed with the opportunity …
Beyond the Conference Hall: Memories and Lessons from ICOSS 2025” By Sanduni Samarasinghe from Sri Lanka ICOSS 2025 marked a significant turning …