We're delighted to announce that the Social Outcomes Conference (SOC) will return on 2–3 September 2027, bringing together researchers, policymakers and practitioners working to improve social outcomes, hosted by the Government Outcomes Lab at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.
Help us shape SOC27!
We want SOC27 to be a truly collaborative event, shaped by the ideas, experiences and questions of our global community.
As we begin planning next year's programme, we'd love to hear from you. What conversations should we be having? What emerging challenges, research or practical experiences deserve attention? And how could we make the conference more interactive, inclusive and engaging?
We're particularly interested in hearing your ideas for both session topics and formats. Whether it's an interactive workshop, a peer-learning session, a research presentation or something completely different, we're open to creative approaches that encourage meaningful exchange and collaboration.
You don't need to have a fully developed proposal. We're equally keen to hear early ideas, questions you'd like to explore or suggestions for new ways of bringing people together.
Have an idea? Get in touch by mid-December 2026 at golab@bsg.ox.ac.uk. Further details about the programme, registration and opportunities to participate will be announced in due course.
Since 2018, we have convened a growing global community of policymakers, practitioners and researchers dedicated to improving social outcomes through cross-sector partnerships, offering a space for shared learning and meaningful engagement with the emerging evidence.
The early editions of the conference had a particular emphasis on innovative, outcomes-oriented forms of cross-sector partnerships such as social impact bonds (increasingly referred to as social outcomes partnerships or social outcomes contracts). This has since served as a springboard for exploration of wider questions:
- How can we build effective cross-sector partnerships that drive impact?
- What does it mean to embed meaningful outcomes at the heart of public services?
- How can data and evidence be used to inform smarter, outcomes-focused decision-making?
- What lessons can be applied across sectors to improve policy design and delivery?
- How can government best steward the delivery of social services through an outsourced dynamic?
Though the topics have expanded, the conference remains committed to bridging academia, policy, and practice for better social outcomes, emphasising inclusive evidence-building and open knowledge-sharing. We encourage participants to embrace this interdisciplinary exchange, recognising that learning from those outside one’s immediate field is a valuable opportunity. We are committed to rigorous research and evidence-driven insights, ensuring that academic advancements inform best practices in policy and implementation—and that, in turn, real-world practice shapes the research agenda.
Attendees can expect a dynamic environment that fosters cross-sector dialogue, deepens understanding, and advances the field of outcomes-focused work. As in previous years, the conference will feature discussions on the latest thinking and findings from academic research alongside insights from emerging practice across different geographies, disciplines and policy areas.
For the Social Outcomes Conference we have four guiding principles which underpins all of our content
- Fresh perspectives & innovation: We are keen to hear about innovations, examples of building on the traditional foundations to create something fresh, and experiments or case studies that have yet to be studied in detail. We wish to hear from alternative voices and perspectives – that may disrupt assumptions and bring fresh views. We continue to seek insights from a wider range of voices: from different practice backgrounds, distinct leadership voices, and different national, regional, social, academic, and professional contexts.
- Evidence-based: We are committed to academic excellence in all our work. For SOC26 this means an expectation for all insights and conference applications to be grounded in robust evidence.
- Diversity: We value diversity and inclusion and are committed to creating a conference where the rich intersection of different voices and backgrounds are prioritised. We encourage applications from individuals and organisations representing a range of backgrounds spanning ethnic, cultural, geographical, and income differences.
- Pragmatic & constructive: We encourage all contributions to bring critical, thoughtful perspectives while balancing this with being constructive – making a positive contribution. We believe in bringing together academia and policy practice – making sure both are helping address and inform the other.