Paper Guidelines

The IST-Africa Call for Papers is focused on full papers (8 - 10 pages including references using the IST-Africa paper template, c.4,000 words).

Your paper structure should incorporate:

- Abstract (Paper summary as one paragraph in 100 - 150 words)

- Introduction - Issues to be addressed

- Objectives of your paper

- Methodology Used

- Technology or Business Case Description

- Results

- Conclusions and Summary Recommendations

- References

When preparing a paper for submission for consideration, please review

- IST-Africa Editorial Policy

- IST-Africa Policy on Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)

- IST-Africa Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement

IST-Africa Paper Template to be used

Please download the updated IST-Africa Template and Paper Guidelines by right-clicking on the links and use "Save Target As".

It is necessary for the template to be saved as a separate .dot file on your harddrive. Then click on this template in Windows Explorer (or another file manager) to create a Word document using the template styles. When you save the document it should have a .doc extension.

To convert a paper in .docx format to .doc format, please select "Save As" - select "Word 97 - 2003 Document (*.doc)" from the combo box and Save

All authors must comply with the template and associated guidelines for papers in order to ensure consistency across the conference proceedings.

Only full papers up to 4,000 words (8 - 10 pages including references) using the IST-Africa paper template can be assigned for double blind peer review.

Paper Preparation Guidelines

By submitting a paper for double blind peer review for consideration of inclusion in the IST-Africa Conference Programme and Proceedings, the author is confirming that

a) this paper is the original work of the authors listed;

b) this paper has not previously been published;

c) all material is appropriately referenced with no plagiarism (including self-plagiarism); and

d) any use of AI is appropriate and ethical and has been fully disclosed in the Acknowledgements section of the paper - See IST-Africa GenAI Policy

Each author listed in a paper is expected to have made a substantial contribution and have approved the paper versions submitted for review and publication.

Papers should not be submitted to other conferences or journals while under review. See IST-Africa Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement

Intellectual content (including research ideas), research data (including data collection where appropriate), methodological design, analysis and discussion of results (including interpretation of findings) as well as conclusions should be developed independently by authors.

Any use of Artificial Intelligence (including but not limited to Generative-AI) must be appropriate and fully disclosed in the Acknowledgements section of the paper (including the specific AI tool used). Authors have full and sole responsibility for the scientific content and originality of their work. See IST-Africa GenAI Policy

The abstract should summarise the problem statement, aim of the work, research method applied, results and conclusion as one paragraph within c 150 words.

Papers must present analysis of initial or final research results or a case study. It is important to highlight actual or expected impact as well as the level of innovation.

General project descriptions are not appropriate.

It is necessary for papers submitted to include new elements that have not previously been published to warrant inclusion in the conference proceedings. Any elements of the paper previously published should be carefully referenced. Any visionary elements in paper should be supported by mini use cases to illustrate applicability.

As all papers will be double blind peer reviewed by the IST-Africa 2027 Programme Committee, please ensure that no contact details are provided within the text or Properties of the paper submitted. All author details should be submitted online in the Author List as part of the Online Submission Process - including the name and organisation for the author submitting the paper. Papers should be uploaded in .doc format.

Each presenter can present ONE paper in the Programme. It is necessary for papers to be physically presented by an author / co-author during the event to ensure inclusion in the Proceedings.

Please only submit papers for review where there are authors/co-authors who will complete registration if accepted for inclusion in the Programme and present the results. Please do not submit multiple papers for which there is only one author who can register.

Papers can take the form of:

- Presentation of innovative ICT achievements

- Presentation of eAdoption achievements

- Lessons learnt from case studies, regional and national programmes and initiatives

- Discussion of future oriented technologies with mini use cases

- Discussion of existing and emerging standards related to the appropriate use of technology with mini use cases

- Discussion of current status of eAdoption in a specific industry sector, country or region

- Discussion of legal and contractual issues related to the appropriate use of technology with mini use cases

- Discussion of ethical issues related to use of technology with mini use cases

Please refer to thematic priorities for more information.