EdUcation Research for "Now" Postgraduate Research Conference

EdUcation Research for “Now” is a conference that brings together researchers responding to the demands of education in a time of rapid social, cultural, and technological change. It invites those who seek to not only understand educational systems, but to engage with and transform them through bold, critical, and creative inquiry. 

Presenters will challenge assumptions, reimagine methodologies, and share practices that speak directly to the urgencies of today’s research culture. We particularly welcome abstracts from researchers who examine their own positionality, reflexively and critically, through consideration of the ways in which their perspectives and experiences shape the research they conduct. This is a space for questioning, creating, and connecting through education research grounded firmly in the now.

The purpose of this conference is to give postgraduate researchers who are studying education in York the experience of applying for, attending and presenting at an academic conference.  It is also an opportunity to network and build relationships with other researchers within this field of study. Consequently, we welcome submissions from ALL PhD/EdD or MA/MSc students from the Department of Education at the University of York. We welcome applications for short presentations, interactive activities, or posters under the following sub-themes (more details below): 

• Re-thinking Education Research

• Creativity in Education

What is a conference?

A conference is a great space to present what you're currently working on (whether that be in the early stages or the later stages of a research project!) We aim to foster a safe space in which all presenters and attendees feel comfortable discussing their research within a supportive environment. The University of Hull have a clear guide if you want to find out more about academic conferences and the benefits of attending and presenting here. 

*Please note that as this is a student-led conference there will be no conference proceedings*

Re-thinking Education Research 

What counts as valid research? Whose voices are centred or silenced? How can we design research that is more inclusive, reflexive, and responsive to contemporary education? 

This sub-theme invites speakers to discuss innovation and disruption in traditional educational research; speakers are invited to to consider their reflexive positioning as researchers who: 

1. Think critically about conventional research paradigms and methodologies by exploring creative approaches to conducting research; 

2. Question ineffectual and/or outdated structures, systems and pedagogies and consider new approaches to education and/or research; 

3. Question traditional, inaccessible research dissemination methods, and provide practical, creative and innovative solutions to change the ways in which research can be shared with those who it impacts most. 

Creativity in Education

Creativity is an essential dimension of critical educational research. Big C Creativity is world changing, be that through a pedagogical transformation, methodological innovation, or technological advancements. On the other hand, little c creativity is the expression of the human imagination. It involves the ability to generate original, emotionally resonant, and aesthetically compelling ideas, forms, or performances. 

Whether through visual arts, music, dance, theatre, or literature, artistic creativity is about making meaning. This sub-theme invites participants to consider how they draw upon creativity within their research, whether that be:

1. A topic that fosters creative thinking , such as literacy or arts; 

2. A creative theoretical approach to education theory;  

3. A creative methodological approach to education research. 

This sub-theme invites participants to present any aspect of their research which demonstrates creativity (e.g. directly in the research or in the dissemination).  Speakers might present on a creative topic, theory or methodology, or they might present their research in a creative or unusual way (budget and time permitting). 

Keynote Speakers

Alongside an exciting line up of internal PGRs, this conference will be bookended by two esteemed keynote speakers:

Submit your Abstract  

Submission is now closed. We look forward to seeing you on the 7th July! 

Timeline of events

Monday 19th May - Applications open

Friday 13th June (10pm) - Applications close

Friday 20th June - Applicants notified of outcome

Monday 7th July - Day of the conference

Conference Committee

Kayleigh Doyle (she/her), Abigail Bowling (she/her), Suzie Eden (she/her), Violet Huaijue Jiang (she/her), Faiz Mubarok (he/him), Jinglei Yu (she/her), Claire Vincent, Bee Hankins, and Siying Huang (she/her).

University of York PhD students from the Department of Education

Contact us  

edupostgradsconferenceinquiry@gmail.com