Annual Report 2014, Porto

General Overview

Those present at the network meeting wish to open the report by giving due recognition to the organization of this year’s conference, particularly the academic organization. The accommodation for the network sessions was very good compared to recent years both in terms of the immediate facilities and the level and closeness of support structures and staff. Having the network sessions so closely located greatly facilitated reflexive participation in the conference.  The conference sessions were generally well attended with an average participation of well over 20 this year. The figure would have been higher but for low participation in one or other of the parallel sessions, where these occurred, and one of the morning sessions. We filled 15 sessions all told thanks to using parallel sessions for some symposia and papers.  Late cancellations meant however that our network activities ended after session 12 on Friday morning. This was also the case in 2013. The presentations were mainly conventional papers but there was a double and a single symposium as well as a roundtable session conducted together with net 14. The symposia and roundtable sessions were well attended and contained well managed presentations that helped initiate important and enriching discussions.

Symposia, Round Tables and Joint Sessions

Increasing the number of symposia and roundtable sessions has been an aim for us. We were happy to host these again this year. They always relate well to the overal theme of the conference and we look forward to continuing to do organise them also in the future. We are happy to cooperate with any other network on this matter. At the annual meeting those present were encouraged to think actively about suitable themes and partner networks. Ethnography is becoming a common research approach in educational research in Europe. Joint sessions are a benefit to improving the quality of the approach. We have discussed sessions of methodology, history and philsophy as possible future joint symposia sites of cooperation.