Organization of the conference
Before the Conference
A group of network members, who have participated in previous conferences, will be identified and contacted in order to define how best to facilitate the working groups, and according to what criteria or perspectives. Through webinars, common ground will be defined to frame the facilitation process and identify each facilitator’s preferences (e.g., themes, facilitation style).
Based on their proposals and the preferences formulated, participants will be selected and assigned to a specific working group. Each group will be assigned one of the twelve themes / questions defined above. Although such themes / questions will serve as triggers and entry points for the members of each group to start working together, the dialogue nurtured among participants may go beyond the initial themes / questions introduced. The organizers will do their best to match participants’ interests and preferences, as expressed in their proposals. Groups will be formed considering both participants’ contributions and the value of having heterogeneous groups confronting diverse perspectives. Participants will be working with their assigned group during two mornings at the conference.
First day of the conference (Thursday June 25th 2020)
Pre-Conference Meeting for PhD students and new researchers:
During that meeting, new researchers and PhD students will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss their questions regarding transformative processes with experienced scholars.
During the afternoon, the facilitators of the working groups will meet in order to establish common guidelines to facilitate small group work throughout the conference and finalize the organization of the sessions.
During the first evening, participants will have the opportunity to gather informally and meet all the other participants, as well as the members of the working group to which they will be assigned. They will bring an object, as suggested above – a poem, artefact, etc. – that best symbolizes their relationship to transformation, its meanings and illumination.
Second day of the conference (Friday June 26th 2020)
The day will start with a short Welcome to participants in plenary. Then, participants will be dispatched. During the morning, the small working groups will meet to identify the specific themes or questions they have shared. No formal presentations will be made. Participants will have time to introduce themselves, their research interests and the key issues in their texts. Participants discussion of their own research should focus on unanswered questions or uncertainties; and or what do they feel like not knowing something about; what would they like to know more about?
At lunch time and during the first part of the afternoon there will be the opportunity for all the participants of the conference to meet and discuss informally, in order to establish new connections and reinforce existing relations.
The second part of the afternoon will provide the opportunity to share, in plenary session, issues and questions raised during the morning, as well as address common themes and questions shaping the whole life of the network. Each working group will be encouraged to provide a short presentation of where they are in their work. This can take the form of words, or maybe a moment of theatre, sculpture, etc.
Late afternoon and the evening will provide participants with informal activities to further develop connections and mutual encounters.
Third day of the conference (Saturday June 27th 2020)
On Saturday morning, participants will pursue their dialogue within the same working group as Friday. The organization of the day will be similar to Friday.
Fourth day of the conference (Sunday June 28th 2020)
On Sunday morning the work done in each group will be synthesized and presented in plenary, according to a style chosen by each group.
The assembly will then formulate key points emerging from reflections and dialogue in order to formalize key issues, questions and contributions which appear relevant for building a shared research agenda and preparing a book.
The overall processes of the conference will be evaluated to enable us to define the steps to be taken to prepare for next time.