Learning At and From a Virtual Conference: A Comparison of Conference Formats and Value Contributing Factors

A relevant learning space for academics, especially junior researchers, is the academic conference. While conference participation has long been associated with personal attendance at the conference venue, virtual participation is becoming increasingly important. This study investigates the perceived value of a purely virtual academic conference for its participants by analyzing the evaluation feedback (N = 759) from three virtual and two face-to-face LAK conferences. For the purposes of this study, we derive a definition of conference value and identify factors contributing to the overall value rating of virtual academic conferences based on the existing literature. Results indicate a perceived value of virtual conferences comparable with that of face-to-face events, satisfaction with social interaction and topics of interest being the most important predictors. Our insights show that virtual conferences are valuable events for academic professional development and conference organizers can utilize these results to design a valuable event for their participants.