Best Paper Award 2024

• For more on Thi's work: ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4679-2248

"Building Inclusive School Climates: Strategies for Supporting Migrant Children's Sense of Belonging"
Children from migrant backgrounds often face unique challenges at school — from learning a new language to dealing with discrimination or feeling like they don’t belong. These challenges can feel even more intense in countries where anti-immigration messages are growing louder, such as the UK in the aftermath of Brexit.

This paper shares findings from an ethnographic study conducted in a diverse English primary school, which many children described as an "oasis" of inclusion and care. Drawing on the voices of fifteen migrant-background students, the research explores how they experience their school environment and identifies specific strategies that help them feel welcomed, supported, and able to thrive. These include valuing children’s cultural backgrounds, fostering positive peer relationships, and creating safe and inclusive spaces for learning and play.

The paper speaks to ongoing conversations about how schools can better support migrant and ethnic minority students. It offers practical ideas for educators and policymakers seeking to create more inclusive and nurturing environments for all children, no matter where they come from.

Thi said of their Best Paper Award experience:
"I felt truly honoured to receive the Best Paper Award at the 2024 Emerging Researchers’ Conference of the European Educational Research Association. My paper, which explores how schools can foster inclusive environments where migrant children feel a sense of belonging, addresses an issue that feels especially urgent today, as migration becomes increasingly politicised and migrant communities continue to face hostile policies. Presenting in such a supportive and friendly environment of the ERC was a highlight of the experience. The peer reviewers were also generous with their feedback, offering thoughtful and detailed suggestions to strengthen the paper, and the editor provided a clear summary of required revisions, making the process both smooth and accessible—particularly welcoming for Early Career Researchers. This recognition gives me hope and motivation to continue this important work."

• Thi Bogossian (they/them) recently completed a PhD in Sociology at the University of Surrey (UK), with research interests in childhood and youth, education, migration, and gender. They bring previous experience as a school teacher and are now building a research and teaching profile in higher education. Thi is actively engaged in international and comparative research and has contributed to global policy initiatives in the field of education.