As in previous years (for example in Dublin and Hamburg), this opening session is intended to introduce European and international scholars to the discourse on social justice and intercultural education in the respective host country of ECER. The convenors of network 7 have therefore invited three scientists from Switzerland to the conference with the aim of presenting the specifics of the Swiss discourse, including particular research foci, controversies, areas of intense discussion and their assumed potential for future developments.

The three speakers each represent one of the Swiss language regions and will outline the discourse from their perspective.

Prof. Dr. Abdeljalil Akkari is professor for intercultural and international dimensions of education at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva. He will hold his impulse lecture with a focus on the French speaking part of Switzerland.

Prof. Dr. Stefano Losa is professor at the Competence Centre for Languages and Plurilinguism Studies of the University of Applied Science and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI, Ticino). He will take a point view from the Italian speaking part.

Prof. Dr. Daniel Hofstetter is professor for Teacher Professionalisation and Competence Development at the University of Teacher Education in Special Needs (HfH, Zurich). He will represent the perspective of the German speaking part of Switzerland.

Half an hour remains in the format of the session for a joint discussion with the plenum after the completion of all impulse lectures. Prof. Dr. Carola Mantel (University of Teacher Education Zug, Switzerland) and Prof. Dr. Lisa Rosen (University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany) will chair the discussion, highlighting similarities and differences between the Swiss and European discourses on intercultural education and social justice.

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