Your web browser is outdated and may be insecure

The RCN recommends using an updated browser such as Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome

RCN Congress Education, Learning and Development Programme submission form

Please complete this form if you wish to submit a proposal to host a session as part of the Education, Learning and Development Programme (ELDP) at Congress 2025 (12-15 May 2025).

Before you submit your proposal, you may want to read our guidance.

Congress 2025 will be an in-person event and, where agreed and appropriate, ELDP sessions may be recorded so they are available to watch on demand at a time that suits individuals following the event. All ELDP presenters, chairs and panel members are expected to be onsite to deliver their session. For more information, please contact congress@rcn.org.uk.

Please note, only RCN “entities” can submit for this programme. Entities include RCN forums, boards, branches, networks, groups, or RCN departments and country/region offices. The RCN entity will be asked to confirm and agree the submission before it is sent for review.

The closing date for applications is 5pm, Wednesday 8 January 2025.

As only RCN “entities” can submit for this programme, applications made on behalf of third parties by RCN “entities” are not permissible. For all other enquiries including exhibiting please contact congressexhibition@rcn.org.uk.

Submission details


Congress 2025 Education, Learning and Development Programme

The ELDP will be aligned with the RCN Institute, the organisation’s own centre of excellence for education, learning, research and policy. As such, the themes for the programme have been linked to each of the institute’s five academies – nursing workforce, nursing practice, nursing leadership, international nursing, and activism.

The themes are:

  • Nursing Practice Academy: Clinical and practice development - education, learning, research, digital transformation
  • Nursing Leadership Academy: Leadership and management
  • Nursing Practice Academy: Regulation, quality improvement and innovation
  • All Academies: Wellbeing, mental health and self-care
  • Activism and Nursing Workforce Academies: Workforce – recruitment, development and retention, organising for change, safe staffing, pay, terms and conditions

International Nursing Academy may apply to any of the themes.

Please select one theme for your submission:

  • Clinical and practice development
  • Leadership and management
  • Regulation, quality improvement and innovation
  • Wellbeing, mental health and self-care
  • Workforce

Please select the RCN entities working in collaboration on this submission (working in collaboration is desirable, there is no maximum):

Please note, submissions must be RCN led, external organisations are not eligible to be the main submitting entity or to host a session.

Please let us know if you are not able to hold your session on a particular day or if, due to speaker availability, at a particular time (please note we cannot guarantee time slots).

While we try to accommodate all requests, we cannot guarantee that your preferred time and/or date will be available. We will contact all accepted submissions in February 2025 to confirm allocated time slots.

Your proposed Congress Education, Learning and Development Programme session

Speaker information

Please provide names and contact details, if known, and whether they are RCN members or externally invited speakers.

This is to help avoid scheduling clashes.

Presenters attending Congress exclusively to deliver a ELDP session will be able to claim travel and accommodation expenses in line with the RCN expenses policy. This should be arranged with the relevant supporting RCN Directorate/Department/Professional staff lead who will make the booking through the RCN’s approved travel agent.

The RCN will not pay expenses if the presenter is already funded to attend Congress, and is unable to pay for any additional AV requirements, over and above the standard package, or any other costs related to your session.

Please estimate in £ sterling costs for your proposed session including presenter travel and accommodation and expenses. Please note we are unable to pay speaker fees or honorariums and expenses are paid in line with the RCN expenses policy.

Please refer to the RCN expense policy for guidance on travel and accommodation.

By submitting this form, you are giving the RCN permission to contact you about your submission.

The information you provide in this form will be stored by the RCN.

Protecting your privacy is very important to us. Please view our privacy policy to find out more about the information we collect and how it is used.