Network 22 had a very successful conference programme this year.
63 papers were accepted for the Conference, 57 of which were presented. These included one Symposium (partially joint with the Philosophy Network) one Roundtable Session, one Poster Session and an Inter-Network Research Workshop Session with Networks 15, 21 and 23.
The main themes covered by the papers this year were:
- Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Pedagogic Dimensions
- Teaching and Learning: student/teacher relationships in Higher Education
- Teaching and Learning: Changes in Students’ Experiences
- Student Motivation, Learning Styles and Learning Strategies in Higher Education
- Policy and Governance in Higher Education
- Academic and Staff Development in Higher Education
- Quality Issues in Higher Education
- Innovations and New Initiatives in Higher Education
- Higher Education and Internationalisation/Globalisation
- Universities and Developing the Knowledge Economy
- The Changing Curriculum of Higher Education in the Context of the Knowledge Economy
- Transitions: from Higher Education to Professional Lives
- Higher Education and Employability
- Relationships between Student Biographies and their Learning in Higher Education
- Equal Opportunities, Widening Participation and Access in Higher Education
- Use and development of ICT in Higher Education
All of the papers were of interest and value, the range of which well reflects the imperatives, trends and challenges in Higher Education globally. As in previous programmes, many European countries were represented, and it was particularly good to hear from colleagues from Central Europe (Lithuanian, Czech and Poland for example), and from beyond Europe (Iran and South America for example).
Particular presentations offered us examples of how important European collaboration and development is for the future and how well this can work. For example, the Symposium ‘Higher Education: Societies and Universities in Transition’ covered 11 Papers and a formal Response, and took place over 4 sessions. It included presenters from both western and central Europe and addressed critically the major challenges and diverse purposes that Higher Education faces internationally in the twenty-first century.
The Inter-Network Research Workshop Session, held jointly with Networks 15, 21 and 23, reported on the progress of the PERINE Project.
PERINE is working with 8 European countries on developing educational research information systems in the European Research Area, and offers all of us excellent opportunities to share and access research in a ‘new’ European space. And the Roundtable on ‘Students’ Biographical Re-constructions: Life Planning Strategies between Living and Studying’ demonstrated the many benefits and the ‘added value’ that collaborative European research projects bring to each participating university and country.
We were fortunate in our Session Chairs, and I would like to thank colleagues who kindly offered to Chair sessions.
Our Chairs included, as well as myself, Lauritz Brannstrom, David Bridges, Rosemary Deem, Palmira Juceviciene, Robertas Juceviciene, Terence McLaughlin, Elinor Edvardsson Stiwne (Network Co- convenor), John Konrad, Christine Teelken and Jani Ursin.
Good Chairing ensured that our presentations were well paced and that fruitful discussion ensued.
We look forward to the next ECER Conference knowing that the challenges, and possibilities, in higher education are intensifying.
For those who may be interested, we do have a Network Mailing List.
For more information about any of the above, about the Network, or if you would like to join the Mailing List, please contact me by e-mail.
Barbara Zamorski , Network Convenor, November 2003
E-mail: <link>b.zamorski@uea.ac.uk