Student Mentoring Workshop (SMeW)ICSE 2027

The Student Mentoring Workshop (SMeW) at ICSE helps guide students not only to enter the Software Engineering research community but also to understand and navigate the implicit norms and expectations for successful doctoral research and early research careers. The workshop brings together experienced researchers and junior students to explore practical aspects of research beyond technical skills. These include understanding how research contributions are evaluated, how to communicate work effectively, and how to navigate mentoring relationships and academic cultures.

SMeW’s core mission is to foster the development of the next generation of researchers in our community - supporting undergraduates and master’s degree students who are applying to Ph.D. programs, and early-career Ph.D. students who are just beginning their studies. SMeW aims to foster an inclusive community, promoting diversity and increasing the participation of students who are members of underrepresented groups in computing.

Many students struggle with implicit aspects of research, like managing supervisor relationships, building confidence in academic communication, and knowing when and how to take intellectual initiative. This workshop explicitly addresses those “unwritten rules” that standard graduate curricula rarely cover.

The workshop program will focus on important skills for beginner researchers and will offer mentoring opportunities with senior researchers, discussing topics such as the following.

• What are the unwritten expectations of research culture and community membership?
• What distinguishes strong research proposals and papers?
• What non-technical skills are essential for a productive research career?
• How should one read deeply and critically, and present work credibly?
• What are effective ways to manage advisor-student relationships and build a supportive mentoring network?
• How can students plan and communicate research goals and progress?

Format

The workshop will be structured to encourage interaction through confidential small-group discussions. We aim to provide a supportive and friendly environment for students to share their personal experiences and to seek advice from their mentors. We will match mentors and mentees into small groups based on their technical and non-technical interests.

The one-day workshop will be held at the same venue as ICSE. The workshop format will include presentations (a small portion of the workshop to warm up the discussions), skill practice (e.g., networking skill practice right before ICSE starts!), small-group mentoring pods based on particular student topics of interest, and panel discussions on topics of common interest. The mentors will have diverse expertise and experience to offer different perspectives, such as researchers at different stages and with academic or industrial backgrounds.

The workshop will be held the day before the main conference starts.

More information on the workshop organization will be posted soon.

How to participate

Student Application

Please check the Call for Student Applications.

All prospective participants should submit an application to help ensure mentoring matches and a productive workshop experience. Applications should briefly articulate the student’s research interests, goals for the workshop, and any specific areas where guidance is sought.

There will be two rounds of applications with respective deadlines on October 16, 2026, and December 3, 2026. The first will be for applicants who require a visa to visit Ireland, and the second will be for applicants who do not require a visa. If you need a visa to visit Ireland, we strongly encourage you to apply in Round 1.

SMeW vs. Doctoral Symposium?

A common question is why someone would attend the student mentoring workshop or the doctoral symposium. These two events have different focuses. SMeW’s primary goal is to demystify doctoral study and provide mentoring on a wide range of topics. The Doctoral Symposium’s primary goal is to help graduate students develop their research ideas.

Both events also give attendees a chance to network with SE students, academic faculty, and industry representatives, to ask questions, and more.

Call for Student Applications

Introduction

We invite applications from students who wish to participate in the Student Mentoring Workshop at ICSE. Applications help us match participants with appropriate mentors and tailor the workshop experience to students’ needs.

To help support some students in attending the workshop in person, some funding may be available to defray registration and travel costs. This support is subject to the availability of funds.

How to Apply

Apply for the workshop at: https://icse2027-smew.hotcrp.com

We need the following information for your application:

• Your CV/Vita (as an uploaded document). Submit a concise CV (maximum two pages) highlighting academic and research-related experience. Your CV should:
• Be up-to-date and clearly structured
• Emphasize research involvement, publications (if any), projects, academic achievements, service, and leadership relevant to research
• Omit unrelated or outdated material (e.g., high school activities or exhaustive course lists)
• Clarity and focus are more important than visual styling. Use a format that is professional and easy to read.
• A Statement of interest (a field on HotCRP). You will be asked to submit a short statement (maximum 800 words) explaining:
• Why do you wish to attend SMeW
• Your current stage in your research journey
• What specific challenges, uncertainties, or goals would you like to discuss with mentors
• A thoughtful reflection about your development as a researcher and a clear intention to benefit from mentoring.
• Information about funding support (a field on HotCRP). If requesting financial support, please be prepared to specify:
• The amount requested
• A brief breakdown of expected expenses
• Other sources of funding available to you (if any)
• How do you plan to attend the workshop if partial or no funding is available?

Logistics

Apply for the workshop at: https://icse2027-smew.hotcrp.com

The application to the workshop will be reviewed in 2 rounds:

Round 1: Oct 16, 2026 - applicants who will need a visa to visit Ireland (You can find more about Ireland Visa requirements here)

Round 2: Dec 3, 2026 - applicants who do not need a visa to visit Ireland.

We have 2 rounds to give more time to the applicants for the visa application. If you need a visa to visit Ireland, we strongly encourage you to apply for workshop attendance before the Round 1 deadline to allow sufficient time for your visa application process.

Applicants rejected from Round 1 are not eligible for consideration in Round 2.

NOTE: If it is your first time using HotCRP, you may need to register a new account. When registering a new account, HotCRP will ask you to provide your ORCID. This field is optional in the registration.

Sponsors

TBD