Annual Report 2012, Cadiz
This was the first year that Network 18 accepted submissions. We were pleased that the conference attracted over 30 abstracts and that we were able to schedule papers in virtually all of the sessions , including 3 symposia. We attracted academics from around the world, and it is clear that the European focus is of interest to academics in our field.
The development of this Network may have implications for the equivalent BERA SIG, although the EERA Network has a different focus linked to EERA’s objectives. ECER also attracted a slightly different range of researchers, with strong representation from Northern Europe. This suggests that the two organisations will be complementary.
The location of ECER 2013 in Istanbul should help to extend the geographical base into areas where we would like to grow our Network.
In the Network meeting, it was noted that we need to retain the ‘European’ distinctiveness of the conference and the Network and this will be emphasised during the abstract submission process..
At the Network meeting, it was agreed that at ECER 2013, we will encourage presenters to provide more contextual information to ensure that papers can be fully appreciated by a wide audience. There is also a need to encourage all authors to be explicit about the robustness and significance of their findings/papers when submitting abstracts and in presentations.
One of the original intentions of the Network was to facilitate the development of EU and EU/international researcher collaborations for future grant applications. This intention was endorsed and it was agreed that a special session on Horizon 2020 in the context of our field would be scheduled in Istanbul.
It was also proposed that the Link convenor should contact Prof Ken Green – editor of the European Journal of Physical Education - to consider possible links between the Network and the journal. Examples of collaborations included developing a special edition from ECER papers.
Finally, collaboration with the Health Education Network was encouraged and it was agreed that a joint symposium should be developed for ECER 2013.