Australian Association for Research in Education Conference 2021

Education and education research are at a critical moment. Many of the taken-for-granted ways of thinkingand working in early learning settings, schools, universities and other sites of formal and informal education have become untenable in the context of widespread disruption from the global COVID-19 pandemic, an increasingly urgent climate catastrophe and increasing social and economic inequality.

This year’s conference theme invites education researchers to reimagine their ways of thinking and working in complex and uncertain times. We invite papers to consider different ways to engage with the conference theme of Reimagining Education Research. There is an urgent need for research that moves our thinking forward, responds to rapidly changing conditions and emerging challenges, and which recognises the effects and implications of the social, policy and political conditions that are shaping education and education research.

This reimagining of education research is not limited to research. We recognise the need to rethink the traditional conference model, and are continuing to reimagine AARE’s annual conference in ways that keep equity and access at the forefront of our work as a conference committee. Co-hosted in partnership with RMIT School of Education in 2021, this year’s event will bring together researchers virtually and physically in an innovative hybrid conference to connect, network, collaborate and share.

We encourage presenters to consider the different presentation formats available this year. Online and in-person presentation options will be available to all presenters, with the option to seamlessly shift from in-person to online presentation available in the event of any COVID-related travel restrictions or public health directives.

Submissions have been extended and will remain open until 2 July 2021. We look forward to reviewing your proposal.

AARE2021 Conference Co-Chairs
A/Prof Stewart Riddle and Dr Amanda Heffernan

For any queries, please contact AARE’s Events Team at events@aare.edu.au. For more information on the call for abstracts you can also visit the AARE Conference Website.



Key Dates:
  • Abstract Submissions Open - 27 April 2021
  • Abstract Submissions Close - 2 July 2021

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