Conference, Seminar, Symposium, etc.

Conference, seminar, symposium, colloquium, and workshop--- all the terms are common in the sense that each refers to a meeting of a group of individuals to discuss about something--- academic or otherwise. Now, coming to the first three terms, I must say that these are synonymous to each other.

 • A Conference refers to a formal meeting of people (with shared interest) to discuss some issue (and the issue may not be highly academic or about specialised academic subject; it's more of a general nature). it typically takes place over several days and a relatively larger group meets here (which may not be the case in Seminars or Symposia). 

 • Ex: An international conference like the famous 'Jomtien Conference'. 

 • Seminar, on the other hand, involves the meeting of a relatively small group of individuals for discussion or training. 

 • Ex: 'Two-day Seminar for TGT Science/ Math of NDMC Schools’ 

 • Seminar also refers to a small study group of university students, which meet to discuss topics with teacher/teachers. 

 • Ex: The 'M. Ed. Seminar' begins from 17th September. 

• Seminar, in fact, is also a teaching method which uses a lot of discussion among small groups of university students. 

 • Ex: The M. Phil. course requires you to attend at least 5 seminars and actively participate in the same. 

 • Symposium (plural: symposia) refers to a meeting in which individuals discuss a particular specialist or academic subject. It is of more academic nature (with a narrow focus) than a seminar/conference. 

• Ex. Symposium on Gender, Race and Philosophy • Symposium also refers to a collection of related papers by a number of contributors.

 • Colloquium (plural: colloquia/colloquiums) is also an academic conference /seminar (where individuals do conversation about a particular topic or issue); but is mainly used for a meeting of researchers where they present the progress of their works and discuss the issues which emanate. It is more customary in our universities to use the term for such a monthly or bimonthly meeting of Ph. D. scholars. 

 • Ex: Every Ph. D. student, under the new rules, has to present the progress of her/his work in the monthly colloquia on a regular basis. 

 • Workshop, in academics, also refers to the meeting of a group of individuals. What makes it different from the other terms, is the fact that the group meeting for a workshop not only engages in intensive discussion (on a particular subject/project), but also involves in some ‘activity’. So, both ‘talking’ plus ‘doing’ is there in workshops!! 

 • Ex: National workshop on educational technology.