2 full-day bus tours included with the conference – what a bonus for academics

The bus tour took us to the Niagara falls.

The International Journal of Arts and Sciences or IJAS as it is also known, offers 13 conferences annually in spectacular places in Europe and North America. Each of these conferences hosts several academic tracks, including Social Sciences, Business and Economics, Education and Technology and Science. Best of all, included in the registration fee are two full-day bus tours for all participants (and their companions – at an additional fee) to enjoy the special attractions of the region and to use the opportunity to network with other participants in a very innovative way, outside of the conference venue and setting.

Academics tend to attend subject specific conferences and I also do that, but every now and again, it is fun and an enlightening experience to attend a multi-discipline and more general conference. This is also one way to broaden your networking opportunities for possible multi-disciplinary cooperation with academics from other subject fields.

Two years ago, we attended the Boston conference on the famous Harvard campus and enjoyed it very much. The conference organizers are seasoned in this activity, have a vast knowledge and like to engage with and answer tourist-like questions. This year we attended the Toronto conference and had a ball of a time. To our surprise the same people we met in Boston were responsible for organizing this conference and we are already planning to attend another one of these conferences next year.

The bus tours are normally structured in a particular way; one day is set aside for the major tourist attractions in the area (like the Niagara falls in Toronto and the Black forest in Germany) while the second day focuses on the culture and history of the region (like the Indian village near Boston and the Mormon community market in Toronto – both tours were fascinating and stimulating and provided us with a lot of knowledge and insight and a different perspective on other cultures and the way people live and cherish their heritage.

Another bonus is that all conference registrations include the bus tours, and is charged in USA Dollars (even those in Europe which means that these conferences, although in Europe, are not so expensive for South Africans who are always looking at the hole in the pocket when it comes to other currencies). The registration fee is also the same amount for America and Europe.

One word of advice, please study the itinerary of the bus tours before you pack your suitcase as some of the excursions include a day at the beach (so pack a swimsuit and sun protection) or other activities that you would need to plan for. And if you do not want to eat the special lunch (for instance the lobster included in the Boston tour), there are always other options available.

The IJAS is hosting conferences in the following cities: Prague, London, Rome, Freiburg, Malta, Vegas, Paris, Harvard, Sicily, Montreal, Toronto, Venice and Vienna. So make your pick, read the conference page to ensure you know what the bus tours will be like and sent your abstract through! ​