How To Organise A Sociologist Of Education Network

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1 Sociology of Education Research Network (RN 10) European Sociological Association Biennial Report September 2013 September 2015 Introduction The Sociology of Education Research Network aims at enhancing cooperation among sociologist of education in Europe. Contemporary countries in Europe face many changes in the functioning of educational systems. One of them is the on going expansion of education, which brings with it both expected and unexpected outcomes. Another feature concerns the financial crisis and its ramifications on education. Education outcomes are equally positive and negative for certain social groups but also for societies at large. Investigation in these processes of change, alteration but also social cohesion and stability is one of the most important tasks of sociology of our times. The aim of the Sociology of Education Research Network is to provide a forum for presenting and discussing educational research, ranging from broad comparative research at macro level to everyday practices and processes within school at micro level of study. The Research Network is more particularly interested, but not limited, to the following themes: Theoretical developments in the discipline of Sociology of Education Functioning and outcomes of educational systems Expansion and transformation of Higher Education Changes in education Education and transition in Europe Social justice, democracy and equality in education Educational achievement Social divisions (ethnicity, class, gender) and inequality in education Multiculturalism and education Further suggestions are most welcome. 1

2 Coordinating Board in the reported period Vasiliki Kantzara (Coordinator) Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Greece Mieke van Houtte (Vice coordinator) Ghent University, Belgium Bernadette Brereton Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland Maddalena Colombo Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy Jan Germen Janmaat University of London, UK Piotr Mikiewicz University of Lower Silesia, Poland João Sebastião University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal Coordinating Board in the next period Vasiliki Kantzara (Coordinator) Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Greece Mieke van Houtte (Vice coordinator) Ghent University, Belgium Adriana Aubert University of Barcelona Roxana Diana Baltaru University of Essex Bernadette Brereton Dundalk Institute of Technology Maddalena Colombo 2

3 Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Jannick Demanet Ghent University Dinah Gross University of Lausanne Jan Germen Janmaat University of London Piotr Mikiewicz University of Lower Silesia 3

4 Activities in the reported period 1. Organisation of the midterm conference in Lisbon, 2014 Education and citizenship: theoretical issues, policies and practices University Institute of Lisbon, 8 9 September 2014 The call for papers for the midterm conference of the Sociology of Education RN was distributed widely, mainly electronically and in social media. The network received 65 abstract submissions (in Gent were 47) of which 39 registered and presented. A total of 59 persons participate in the conference. The two day conference consisted of 10 sessions thematically organised; this time we thought necessary to present the host country, so there was one session devoted to the Portuguese sociology of education. Scientifically the conference had sessions well attended, with good communications and interesting debates. The conference contributed for a better acknowledgement of the RN 10 inside the sociology of education community. A significant number of information requests came from countries around the world, from Russia to Colombia, Brazil and Mexico, most of them were late, which raises the need to find more efficient communication channels with national associations and universities outside European Union countries. Coordinating board members were active chairing, asking questions, contacting the participants and helping with the overall organization of the conference on the spot. At the end of the conference, information was given about our Research Network and participants were encouraged to join the ESA as a member as well as participate in the next ESA 12 th conference in Prague (August 2015). The conference took place with no problems or complications, having the local committee register the satisfaction of the participants. Additionally, participants experienced the conference as friendly and rich in discussions and exchanging information. The Research Network thanks ESA and the Lisbon University Institute for the help we received that made the organization of the conference possible. 2. Sociology of Education RN at ESA 12 th Conference in Prague August 2015 The sociology of Education RN organised 21 sessions with oral presentations and 2 poster sessions to accommodate 134 paper presentations; this amount constitutes a record for our network, considering that in the previous ESA11th conference (2013) the programme consisted of 14 sessions with oral presentations and one poster session; this amount was actually higher than the previous conference in Geneva (2011). In addition, the RN was granted a proposal to organise a mid day special: Agnѐs van Zanten, Professor, director of CNRS gave a speech titled Educational Inequalities in Access to Higher Education: the Role of Networks, Institutions and Markets. The programme for RN 10 consisted of 21 sessions, mentioned above, titled as follow: S01 Early School Leaving and Drop Out S02 Higher Education and Inequalities (I) S03 Gender in Education S04 School Performance 4

5 S05 Educational and Institutional Practices S06 Social Class, Educational and Social Mobility S07 Higher Education and Inequalities (II) S08 Gender and Ethnicity: Inequalities in Education S09 School Selection and Student Choice S10 Diversity and Diversification in Education S11 Gender, Normativity and Race S12 Teachers: Issues, and Prospects S13 Education, Market and the Crisis S14 Schooling and Success S15 Reproduction of Inequalities in Education S16 Educational Attainment and Inequality S17 School Achievement Social and Human Capital S18 Disability, Minorities and Schooling S19 Interventions and Change in Schools S20 Trajectories and Transitions in Education S21 Citizenship and Tolerance in Schools In addition there were 2 poster sessions The 21 sessions had 4 5 presenters per session (5 being the rule); the 2 Poster sessions accommodated presentations each. Members of the Coordinating Board issued the call for papers and made the abstract selection from 263 submitted abstracts (in Turin were 120 submissions); they also assisted in preparing the conference programme and chaired often twice and thrice in the sessions during the conference; they especially attempted to contribute to fruitful discussions with the conference participants. The overall assessment was that it was a very well organised conference and that sessions of the Research Network were well attended to the last day. This interest materialised as new academics were chosen to take part in the coordinating board, which grew its members from 7 to Communication Information on the activities of the RN is widely distributed though s and via our Facebook page at 4. Publications related to activity of Sociology of Education RN We had one publication (during the we had two): all abstracts from the 2014 conference were published in the Journal of the All Ireland Society for Higher Education Volume 7 No These can be viewed at j/issue/view/18 5. Action to be taken to improve participation of PhD students and early career researchers The following are some of the formal measures applied: 5

6 It has become a standard policy of our network to waive the midterm conference fee to 5 presenters who are Ph.D. students with none or limited institutional funds. We appointed a representative of the network to participate in the Ph.D student meeting organised by ESA during the conference in Prague. We elected three new coordinating members: 2 Ph.D students and 1 post doc fellow. 6. Actions to be taken to expand membership, especially from countries with overall weaker ESA membership, also attracting members from outside Europe Information on conferences, publications and other events relevant to sociology of education issues are regularly sent out via the mailing list and uploaded on the Facebook page of the network. It is not coincidence that in the ESA12the conference there were more abstract submissions from all over the world and presentations were given by young scholars and colleagues from countries outside Europe, such as India, Japan, and Philippines. 7. Collaboration within ESA with other RNs? During the abstract selection process for the ESA12th conference we communicated and with other RN coordinators in relation to relevant issues: for example, we sent and received abstracts most fitting to the theme of our or other RNs. In addition, members of the coordinating board regularly present their work in other RNs scientific meetings. 8. Action to be taken to improve opportunities for publication of papers presented at the Sociology of Education RN meetings and sessions: Publishing is an issue we are interested in. So far there was one publication related to the midterm conference in Lisbon (see above heading number 4). It is our aim to develop further such opportunities. 9. Plans for further activities of Sociology of Education For the next two years ( ) a general planning looks as follow: 1. to continue disseminating information on publications and other opportunities to the members of RN and beyond 2. to organise a midterm conference in Milan, Italy in September to seek opportunities for collaboration with other scientific organizations 4. to seek publication opportunities 5. to issue a call for papers and subsequently organise the sessions of the Education of Sociology RN for the next ESA13th Conference in Athens in Athens, 9 October