Third biennial international conference

Global Health in an Interconnected World: Embracing Ubuntu for Collective Action

A global meeting of researchers, practitioners, policymakers and communities exploring shared solutions for health equity, social justice and human wellbeing.

About the conference

Knowledge across disciplines. Action across borders.

The 3rd Biennial International Social Work and Multidisciplinary Conference Meet 2027 convenes academics, practitioners, researchers, policymakers and students to advance interdisciplinary dialogue and evidence-based responses to pressing health and social challenges.

Building on two previous editions, the conference creates space for cross-cultural knowledge exchange and partnerships across Kenya, the United States and the wider international community.

Its central proposition is simple: sustainable solutions grow when research, policy, professional practice and community knowledge work together.

Global health

Health as a shared human right shaped by social, economic, political, environmental and cultural determinants.

Interconnectedness

Recognising that challenges cross borders and solutions depend on cooperation between disciplines and institutions.

Ubuntu & collective action

Putting solidarity, mutual responsibility and human dignity at the centre of transformative practice.

Call for contributions

Explore the conference tracks

We welcome theoretical, empirical and practice-based contributions across eight thematic areas.

🏥 Global Health Systems & Policy

Universal health coverage, financing, health workforce, governance and pandemic preparedness.

🫱🏽‍🫲🏾 Social Work Theory & Practice

Evidence-based practice, education, professional ethics, community development and family welfare.

🌿 Ubuntu, Indigenous Knowledge & Culture

African epistemologies, indigenous healing, cultural humility and decolonising practice.

🧠 Mental Health & Psychosocial Well-being

Trauma, depression, substance use, resilience, counselling and community mental health.

⚖️ Migration, Displacement & Social Justice

Refugees, internally displaced people, diaspora, statelessness and rights-based approaches.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Gender, Youth & Vulnerable Populations

Gender-based violence, disability, ageing, child protection, inclusion and FGM.

🌱 Climate Change, Environment & Health

Climate justice, environmental health, eco-social work and sustainable development.

💡 Technology, AI, Innovation & Social Work

Digital social work, telehealth, AI in social services, data ethics and e-mental health

Partner institutions & co-hosts

Millersville University of Pennsylvania, USA
Metropolitan University, USA
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA
Concordia University, USA
Winchester University, USA
Tharaka University, Kenya
University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa
Association of Social Work Educators in Kenya (ASWEK)

Important dates

Plan your submission

Prepare your abstract and submit it through the official conference Email when available.

1 November 2026

Abstract submission opens

Begin preparing your structured abstract and author details.

Submissions open

1 March 2027

Abstract submission closes

Late submissions will not be accepted. A maximum of three abstracts per presenting author applies.

Deadline

10 March 2027

Acceptance notifications

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Decision

Abstract structure

Background, Methods, Results and Conclusion

Include

Concise title, 3–5 keywords, author affiliations

Review criteria

Originality, thematic relevance, rigour and potential impact

Presentation types

Oral or poster presentation

Attend the conference

Registration & participation

Choose the category that applies to you. Early-bird and late registration rates are listed below as provided in the conference concept note.

Participant categoryEarly birdLate registration
Local studentsKES 1,000KES 2,000
Local non-student participantsKES 3,500KES 5,500
Participants from other African countriesUSD 45USD 53
International studentsUSD 50USD 70
International participantsUSD 140USD 180
Exhibition — localKES 5,000KES 7,000
Exhibition — internationalUSD 50USD 70

Registration opening dates and payment instructions will be announced by the Conference Secretariat. Presenting authors must register for the conference.

Conference leadership

Organising committee

The conference is overseen by a committee representing Maasai Mara University and partner institutions.

Prof. Aloys Osano

Chairperson

Maasai Mara University, Kenya

Prof. Benard Kodak

Conference Co-Chair (Chairing)

Maasai Mara University, Kenya

Prof. Wanja Ogongi

Conference Co-Chair (Chairing)

Millersville University of Pennsylvania, USA

Prof. Sr. Paula Ude

Member

Concord University, West Virginia, USA

Dr. Raphael Namaru

Member

Maasai Mara University, Kenya

Dr. Zeddy Lemein

Member

Maasai Mara University, Kenya

Dr. Edward Kateiya

Member

Maasai Mara University, Kenya

Prof. Jessica W. Weiss

Member

Millersville University of Pennsylvania, USA

Ms. Everlyne Makhokha

Member

Maasai Mara University, Kenya

Dr. Urbanus Ndolo

Member

Tharaka University, Kenya

Bertha Saldaña DeJesus

Member

Millersville University of Pennsylvania, USA

Prof. Mihoko Maru

Member

University of Hawaii

Dr. Phyllis Muraguri

Member

President, ASWEK

Dr. Wilkin Ndege

Member

JKUAT

Dr. Timothy Okatta

Member

ASWEK

Ms. Grace Ndegwa

Member

Arizona State University

Dr. Kennedy Karani Onyiko

Secretariat

Maasai Mara University, Kenya

Prof. Mary Gitau

Conference Co-Secretary

University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA

Venue & logistics

Meet in the heart of Kenya

Maasai Mara University, located in Narok County, Kenya, offers a unique setting for academic exchange, framed by the breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity of the world-renowned Maasai Mara National Game Reserve. The university provides an opportunity for delegates to experience the spectacular Great Wildebeest Migration, one of the region’s most remarkable natural phenomena, which typically begins reaching the Maasai Mara around June–July, with the timing varying from year to year. The conference is therefore especially significant as it coincides with the anticipated onset of the migration, offering participants an opportunity to combine scholarly engagement with an appreciation of the Mara’s extraordinary wildlife and natural heritage. This setting also reflects Maasai Mara University’s Five Ms research pillars: the Maasai Mara Game Reserve Ecosystem, the Mara River, the Mau Forest, Maasai Culture, and Maombi kwa Wote. These pillars provide an interdisciplinary foundation for research, innovation, community engagement, and sustainable development. Together with the university’s conference facilities, accommodation options, and the opportunity to experience local Maasai culture and tourism, the setting offers a distinctive environment for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and transformative academic dialogue.orem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

📍 Location
Maasai Mara University, Narok

🗓️ Dates
9–11 June 2027

🚗 By road
Approx. 140 km from Nairobi

✉️ Travel support
Guidance from the Secretariat

Bring your research into the conversation.

"Complex social challenges do not respect professional boundaries. To build resilient systems, we must bring every voice to the table—from classroom research to frontline practice, and from community advocacy to legislative policy."