Delegates
What is IIR's cancellation policy?
Registrations cancelled more than 7 days before the Event are subject to a US$ 200 administration charge. Registration fees for registrations cancelled 7 days or less before the Event must be paid in full. Delegate substitutions are welcome at any time.
What discounts are offered?
All conferences and training programmes have ‘Early Bird’ booking discounts for registrations booked in advance of the event. If you would like to send a group of delegates you can benefit from the following discount structure:
2-3 delegates – 10%
4-5 delegates – 15%
6-7 delegates – 20%
7+ delegates – 25%
See the back of the event brochure for details. Online registrations entitled to discounts will be confirmed by fax upon receipt of your booking.
Who is responisble for travel & accommodation?
As a delegate you are responsible for your travel and accommodation. To assist you to the full IIR Middle East have negotiated special delegate rates for you at selected hotels. We highly recommend you secure your room reservation at the earliest to avoid last minute inconvenience. We are more than happy to help you with this, please contact the IIR Hospitality Desk for required assistance on: hospitality@iirme.com +971(0) 4407 2693.
How do I apply for a Visa?
Delegates requiring visas should contact the hotel directly as soon as possible. Visas for non-GCC nationals may take several weeks to process, so avoid delay by ensuring your booking is confirmed by registering today! IIR accepts no responsibility for denials or delays in the processing of Visas.
How do I request a brochure?
Event brochures are available to download on the event website. Alternatively you can email a.watts@iirme.com with the name of the event.
What do I do if I am experiencing problems with IIR's mailings?
If you are receiving multiple mailings, have updated contact information, or would like to be added or removed from our database, contact Eleanor Laag by email at Eleanor.Laag@iirme.com or by phone at +971 (0) 4 4072408. Please keep in mind that amendments, removals, and additions can take up to six weeks to complete as brochures and letters may already be in the mail. You may also send correspondence to:
Eleanor Laag
Head of Registration Systems
Institute for International Research
P O Box 21743
Dubai UAE
What is IIR's privacy policy?
We take privacy seriously and we are committed to protecting your personal information. Our privacy policy is designed to tell you what information is being collected about you, how personal information is being used, to whom personal data is being disclosed and how this personal information is stored and protected so that you can make an informed choice about using this site. This privacy policy has been developed in accordance with our legal obligations.
To view our privacy policy please click here
Speakers
What makes a good presentation?
To include a syllabus/expanded abstract. Incomplete presentations that are commercial or marketing in nature will not be included.
Write your abstract so that it is easily understood. Get to your point as quickly as possible. What is the presentation about? Why is this interesting? How is this important to our delegates? What will delegates get out of the session? Concise language goes a long way towards achieving this goal. Use of conventional writing standards such as topic and supporting sentences also help. Please write in third person present tense. For example, "This lecture focuses on 3D graphics." Not, "I want to talk about 3D graphics." Ensure that your PowerPoint can be deciphered from the back of the room, highlighting the salient points with an effective use of colour.
What is the submission deadline for presentations?
Four weeks before the start of each event.
What do I need to provide in my presentation?
You need these five items:
- Full contact information, including a short biography
- Abstract - A description of your presentation as you would have it appear in the conference programme in 100 words or less. (Write in the third person, present tense)
- Description of the intended audience and prerequisites
Describe what section of our audience would best benefit from this session in 35 words or less. Is prerequisite knowledge necessary for understanding the content of the session? (Write in the third person, present tense)
- Idea takeaway from the presentation - A description of tangible ideas that will be taken away by the attendee in 50 words or less. In other words, briefly explain what they will learn. (Write in the third person, present tense)
- Abstract (extended version)
What are the different session formats?
There are four different session formats. They are:
- Lecture – 30 - 45 minutes: Lectures are presentations (speeches) that include examples, are issue-oriented, and contain both practical and theoretical information.
- Panel - 45 minutes: Panels take many different viewpoints on a topic or issue and combine them in one venue. Debate among panelists is welcome in this format and audience participation should be accounted for. Issues should be presented and placed in their proper historical context with an eye towards its future resolution.
- Roundtable - 45 minutes: Roundtables are small peer discussion groups limited to 35 people. When you choose to moderate a roundtable, you must facilitate conversation and keep the flow of discussion moving. Do not lecture or dictate. Constructive controversy and debate are welcome in roundtables. Topics that are open-ended in nature and promote an exchange of ideas generally work best in this format.
- Workshop - 2 hours – 5 days: Workshops are meetings for intensive discussion with an emphasis on problem-solving. The Seminar-type free discussion, exchange of ideas, demonstration of methods of practical application of skills and principles is actively encouraged.
What does IIR expect from speakers?
When you agree to speak at an IIR event, you're making a commitment to deliver a well prepared talk and to speak on the proposed topic.
We expect our speakers to submit a paper, presentation, or suitable contribution for the conference proceedings by the prescribed deadline. You should have adequate visual accompaniment to your speech and provide copies of slides or handouts for distribution in the classroom. From time-to-time IIR will record your presentation.
What evaluation criteria does IIR use for speaking presentations?
We will email you a confirmation when we receive your presentation. The conference Management uses the criteria below for evaluation:
- Concept: This is the basic idea of your presentation. Is it interesting? Is it relevant? Will it be beneficial for professionals to hear? There's plenty of room for innovative ideas and also the tried and true.
- Depth: Has the idea in your proposal been well considered and fleshed out? To what extent will the audience gain insight? The more in-depth, the better.
- Organisation: Are your ideas organised in a fashion conducive to present in front of an audience? Will the delegates "follow" what you are trying to say? Organisation helps.
- Credentials: How do your credentials qualify you to speak on the topic you've proposed?
What are the benefits to speaking?
The benefits to being a speaker include:
- Complimentary registration, which includes morning and afternoon meals
- Extensive exposure - your name and presentation are featured in our conference programme and on our web site, which will be seen by thousands of professionals
- The chance to influence your peers and community
I would like to propose a vendor-sponsored session. How is that done?
We want our talks to be opportunities for professionals to share their ideas and experiences. Presentations that are commercial or marketing in nature will not be considered. In general, content specific to proprietary products and technologies is considered appropriate for sponsored sessions. The conference management reserves the right to exercise their editorial discretion. If you would like to publicise a product, please contact our sales team for information on exhibiting and other vendor opportunities, including sponsored sessions.
Speaker Guidelines
Based on IIR’s Mission, Vision and Values, we expect honesty in our internal and external relationships.
We offer the following tips to all our speakers. Whether you are an experienced or novice speaker in the Middle East Region, we ask that you take the time to read the following guidelines and hope they will be of assistance.
Time keeping
TIME-KEEPING IS THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE
Conversely please ensure you fill the time allocated. The best speakers finish on time, leaving the audience wanting more. There is no leeway in most conference schedules to allow for over-running, and audiences get restless and tired if they don’t get their Question and Answer sessions or if they lose part of their breaks because of over-running. The first speaker in each session needs to set the standard on delivery and time-keeping, and the others will be more likely to follow his/her lead. As soon as one speaker breaks this pattern, all the others feel they can. Put yourself in the position of the last speaker; if everyone over-runs, he or she may have to be omitted by the Chair. All speakers must time their speeches carefully while using their visuals. Skilled speakers are always meticulous about this. Trim the speech to fit the visuals while practising; such trimming will not be possible once you are on your feet.
What images can I show in my presentation?
Be selective – remember that the majority of the audience will be from the Middle East Region. It is therefore prudent to assume that images of nudity or alcohol will cause offence. Too many images confuse, rather than illuminate. If you find your visuals duplicating that of a former speaker, leave them out. Also, do not use colour schemes, small text or packed graphics which will be impossible to see from the back of the conference hall.
Speaking
Audience: remember who you are speaking to. Tailor your presentation to meet their interests and don’t be afraid to invite feedback and questions during your presentation. It is always better to clarify a point than cause confusion or offence. For a large percentage of the audience, English is not the mother tongue. Speaking fast in order to say more is not advisable. The audience will find it difficult to hear and absorb the text. Please note we are ALWAYS here to help you. Please email