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Predatory Conferences. Think. Check. Avoid. (UWISTA): CONFERENCE CHECKER

CONFERENCE CHECKER

Still in doubt? 

Use this conference-checker tool to ensure that you are considering the right conference for professional research interests.

Click here

 

SAMPLE PREDATORY CONFERENCE CHECKLIST (education technology)

PREDATORY CONFERENCES. CAVEAT EMPTOR
Source: http://weblearning.co.za/predatory-conferences-caveat-empor/ 

ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE: This list dated 2017 provides a checklist for the education technology subject area.
However a wide spectrum of professionals can use this compilation.

  • Is there a conference chair? What connections do they have to academia, the ICT industry or education technology?
  • Are the listed speakers reputable experts. Check their profile on Twitter and use Twitteraudit.com to see if their followers are fake or real
  • Do the advertised speakers know about the programme? Contact a few and ask them whether they know about the event and if their attendance is confirmed.
  • If this is the 3rd, 4th or 5th event, then use Google to locate the previous years conference brochure. Does the programme from the previous year have the same speakers talking about the same topics?
  • Does the PDF attached to the invitation email have the initials or a name associated with the consultant who contacted you about the conference. For example, 3rd-international-jp. This name/initial is probably the sales representative, working on a commission basis.
  • Check on LinkedIn. Does the LinkedIn profile of the person sending out the conference invite have any connections to the field they are promoting? Do the conference organizers have a reputable LinkedIn profile?
  • Does the organisation associated with the conference have a website, does the website mention the conference? Follow up on links. Where do they take you?
  • Is the layout and design of the programme a little patchy, amateur or contradictory. Google the first paragraph. Has the text been plagiarised? Read the programme. Are there obvious errors.
  •  What indexing and storage service does the conference offer for the previous year’s presentations?
  • Finally, are the terms and conditions associated with the conference fair?
    • Does the organiser reserve the right to change the venue?
    • Does the organiser reserve the right to change speaker/facilitator?
    • Does the organiser reserve the right to change programme content?
    • Does the organiser offer refunds, or do they offer a credit voucher?
    • Is the conference fee realistic? Do you believe that you will get value for your money?

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