11th International NEPS Conference
December 10-11, 2026 | LIfBi, Bamberg
Each year, the NEPS conference series of the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi) brings together scientists from different disciplines and from different stages of their academic careers to discuss current research findings based on data of the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS). The NEPS sets the thematic framework for the event – with its seven panel cohorts, covering the entire life course, and its broad range of topics, ranging from competence development and educational processes in various learning environments to educational decisions and social inequality to educational returns and aspects of motivation and personality. The comprehensive NEPS data portfolio also includes the enriched data resources of NEPS-ADIAB (several Starting Cohorts linked to administrative social security data of the Federal Employment Agency and the Institute for Employment Research) as well as of CILS4NEPS (Starting Cohort 4 harmonized and linked to the international data of the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries project).
The LIfBi is pleased to invite the academic community of NEPS data users and interested educational researchers from Germany and abroad for the eleventh time to join us for a lively exchange. We encourage contributions that offer empirical analyses of all mentioned topics, including methodological issues. Both oral presentations and poster presentations are welcome. Abstracts can be submitted until September 15, 2026 – please see the Call for Papers for further information.
In addition to several talks and a poster session, the conference program will once again feature a public LIfBi Lecture, in which the winner(s) of the NEPS Publication Award will be honored and given the opportunity to present their work. The recently introduced “Meet the NEPS Experts” format will also return. Here, NEPS staff share their expertise with conference participants, offering personalized advice in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. And, of course, the traditional Evening Reception featuring typical Franconian food and drinks must not be missed.
The conference takes place at the LIfBi in Bamberg. Conference language is English, and participation ist free of charge. As soon as the schedule – including all sessions, symposia, posters, and topics for the expert dialogue – has been finalized, the information will be announced on this website and via e-mail/newsletter.
Previous NEPS Conferences