Welcome to the Journal of Integrated Studies’ inaugural publication of the 2025 Athabasca University Graduate Students Research Conference (GSRC) proceedings. We are excited to collaborate with the GSRC committee and presenters to highlight graduate scholarly research at AU. This issue provides the GSRC presenters with a record of their scholarly activities and contributions, including abstracts, posters, and presentations.

This year’s conference focused on the theme of “Research for a Changing World,” which explores the social, economic, technological, and environmental post-pandemic landscape. Notably, the graduate research addressed contemporary issues arising from this context, such as the ubiquity of artificial intelligence and the troubling concerns of systemic inequalities, while calling for inclusive, forward-thinking recommendations to better guide and shape our society as a whole.