School of Empirical Studies in Software EngineeringICSE 2026

About

Our target audience is Brazilian graduate students pursuing master’s or Ph.D. degrees and conducting research in Software Engineering. Participants will be invited to design a protocol for an empirical study, such as a controlled experiment, case study, survey, action research, or ethnography, focused on a topic relevant to their ongoing research.

This is the second edition of the School, which is designed to guide participants through the main stages of planning an empirical study: formulating and refining research questions, selecting appropriate methods, and defining initial procedures and data analysis plans.

Often, when we receive peer-review feedback on a submitted paper, we are presented with valuable critiques that highlight issues rooted in early design decisions. At that stage, however, changes are no longer feasible. Feedback from external researchers typically comes only after the study has been conducted, either through reviews or conference presentations. This School aims to shift that moment of reflection to the early, planning phase of empirical studies, enabling researchers to gain insights and make informed decisions before the study is carried out.

Designing an empirical study is a creative, iterative, and collaborative process. The School encourages this by supporting the development of multiple versions of study protocols, based on the guidelines presented in lectures and activities, and enriched through feedback from peers and instructors during group discussions and review rounds.

Format

The School will be conducted in a hybrid format, organized into three phases: a one-day in-person session at the ICSE venue and two sets of remote activities scheduled before and after the event.

In the first phase, which will take place remotely over approximately one month before the in-person event, participants will attend lectures and hands-on activities designed to help them develop elements of their study protocols. At the end of this phase, they will receive initial feedback from instructors.

The second phase will occur during the in-person event at ICSE. Participants will present their draft study protocols, discuss potential improvements, and receive feedback from their peers.

In the final phase, following the event, participants will revise and submit an improved version of their protocol. This version will undergo a second round of instructor review.

Based on previous ICSE schedules, the in-person session of the School will likely take place on Tuesday, the day before the main conference begins. However, this date is yet to be confirmed. Additional details about the School’s organization will be shared soon.

Eligibility

Participants must:

• be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program in Brazil between January and April 2026.

• be conducting a research project in Software Engineering.

• have prior knowledge of Software Engineering fundamentals and scientific methodology.

Application Procedure and Selection Process

Each submission consists of two elements:

1. An online form filled out by the student: https://bit.ly/eees2026-inscricao

2. A letter of recommendation from the student’s supervisor. The letter should certify the student’s knowledge of the fundamentals of Software Engineering and Scientific Methodology, and explain how participation in the School will contribute to the development of the student’s research project. The letter should be submitted by the supervisor in a PDF format, using this form: https://bit.ly/eees2026-carta.

Both must be received by October 26, 2025, AoE. Submissions received after this date will not be considered. Notifications will be sent by December 19, 2025, AoE.

Should you have any questions, please email us at escola.eees@gmail.com.

Sponsors

Financial support is made possible thanks to the generous support of ACM SIGSOFT. Each selected participant is eligible for financial support of up to 550 USD (or the equivalent amount in Brazilian reais or euros) to reimburse expenses related to registration (Student member single-day fee - early), transportation, accommodation, and meals.