SIG Writing Conference 2026

ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences

Our university is one of the leading universities of applied sciences in Switzerland. In our work in research and development, the ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences concentrates on important societal challenges, with a particular focus on energy and social integration. With locations in Winterthur, Zurich and Wädenswil, the ZHAW is firmly integrated in the local region whilst also collaborating with international partners. There are eight Schools in the University: Applied Linguistics; Applied Psychology; Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering; Engineering; School of Health Sciences; Life Sciences and Facility Management; Management and Law; and Social Work.

Facts & figures (2024):

• over 14,500 students
• over 3,600 employees

School of Applied Linguistics

The School of Applied Linguistics is unique in Switzerland. And we mean this quite literally: no other Swiss university of applied sciences houses a department dedicated to the field of linguistics. What's more, it is also one of the biggest of its kind in Europe. In the areas of teaching and research, we generate and pass on practical, innovative knowledge and skills that can be put to profitable use in language, media and communication professions – using artificial intelligence and creating human added value in the process.

Experts in applied linguistics clarify, analyse and resolve social problems in which language and communication play a key role. Collaborating with experts from other academic disciplines and the realm of professional practice, they generate new knowledge and put this to work. Their solutions are sustainable, not only benefiting society as a whole, but also the area of professional practice being investigated. Applied linguists thus adopt a transdisciplinary approach.

Our research, academic programmes and advisory services focus on domains such as business and technology, justice and administration, healthcare and educational institutions as well as mass media and public communication. The findings generated by our research activities are incorporated directly in our training and continuing education courses, allowing us to promote professionalisation not only in language and communication work, but in all areas in which communication plays a decisive role.

Our buildings and facilities are accessible with wide floors, no steps at the entrance, two lifts and wide stair cases, re-arrangable tables and chairs, silent areas, large number of power outlets. We do have a security concept in place and trained first responders on duty. Do not hesitate to contact us for questions and further assistance!

Winterthur

Surrounded by parks, forests and the surrounding idyllic region, Winterthur has undergone a rapid transformation in recent years from a traditional industrial city to a modern and innovative location for education and technology. With the charming old town at its heart, Winterthur invites you to enjoy its pretty alleyways and stores as well as cozy restaurants and cafés.

Not only the city, but also the region around Winterthur invites you to enjoy. Hikers and cyclists get their money's worth: the idyllic Töss Valley or the Zurich wine country with its lakes, fields, vineyards and the Rhine are ideal for an excursion into nature.

Discover Winterthur

How to get there

Winterthur is easily reachable by train from major cities across Europe via Zurich, where trains to Winterthur can be taken. Consult the SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) website for train information in Switzerland.

The nearest airport is Zurich (ZRH), which serves international flights from all around the world. It's less than 20 minutes by train from ZRH to Winterthur. However, Winterthur can also be reached via train from the airports Basel (BSL), Geneva (GVA), or Munich (MUC)—although traveling by train from Munich to Zurich takes some time.

The School of Applied Linguistics is located close to Winterthur main train station.

Visa

Switzerland is part of Schengen, but not a member of the European Union. Please visit the Swiss Government's Visa and entry to Switzerland page for information on whether you require a visa and how to apply.

The minor but important things: water, power, internet

Usually, all tap water is drinking water. You will also find quite some fountains in public spaces, also all with drinking water. As a rule of thumb: if the running water from a fountain is easily reachable—e.g., you do not need to climb over a fence—it is save to drink. There will be signs if water is not safe for drinking.

In Switzerland, power plugs and sockets (outlets) of type J (also known as T13) are used, see here. Europlugs do fit. The standard voltage is 230 V at a frequency of 50 Hz.

In Switzerland you will find open WiFi at various public places like train stations, market squares, libraries, etc. Restaurants and hotels offer WiFi for guests with a password or are open as well. At the conference venue, we will provide Internet access with a password. You can also use Eduroam.

Restrictions on Number of Submissions and Roles

To ensure a good balance of people actively presenting at the SIG Writing Conference 2026 and being involved in activities, we implemented a few restrictions. A single researcher can only be:

• 3 times the presenting author
• 1 time a discussant for a symposium
• 1 time a chair of a symposium
• 4 times a co-author of any presentation

Each person can submit up to 8 proposals—for a larger research group or project, one person should thus be able to hopefully submit all contributions they are part of. Co-authors can submit proposals with a different person as presenting author, etc.

Access to the Submission System

To submit a proposal, you need your user name and password for the EARLI system. If you never used any service by EARLI, you first need to create an account.

On the User Dashboard, you find the section "My Submissions." Click "New Submission" and the entry for "SIG Writing Conference 2026" has two options "New submission" (to submit a paper, poster, roundtable, or demonstration) and "New symposium" (to submit a symposium). In the meta data section, please choose exactly 4 keywords matching your submission. The keywords are used to assign reviewers and later help assembling the program accordingly.

When adding participants to a submission, please note that Presenting Authors or Chairpersons must have an account. When entering a presenting author / potential chairperson please ensure that the e-mail address entered here matches the one entered in their account—you might need to ask all persons specifically for the e-mail address they use with EARLI.