Network Meeting 2016, Dublin

ECER 2016 – Key numbers

• The educational leadership network is now among the 8 largest networks.
• ECER 2016 had 2440 submissions total, double blind peer review by a minimum of 2 reviewers were the norm.
• Acceptance rate overall: 87% (2015: 86%)
• NW 26 acceptance rate for 2016: 81%, 79 out of 98 submissions accepted. This is an increase in quantity and quality (2015: acceptance rate 83%, 69 out of 83 submissions accepted).
• NW26 presentations included 2 posters, 1 double-length round table, 6 symposia (2 of them double-length), no workshop.

Quality and acceptance

As it has been the case for several years now, most proposals submitted to NW26 are of adequate or better quality and rate well in the three assessment areas:  

• Coherence in Argumentation and Methodology
  
• Awareness of Previous Work and Own Contributions
  
• European Perspective

A continuing challenge is assessing proposals that are too short. There were a couple of proposals that had an overall word count (excluding references) of 400 words or less.

Comments: During a discussion among the co-convenors (at the co-convenor’s meeting) it was decided that we will be stricter with submissions that fail to provide enough details. As a rule of thumb, submissions with less than 600 words (excluding references) will be scrutinized with special care.

Link convenor and Co-Convenors:
Link Convenor
Pierre Tulowitzki, Switzerland
Helene Ärlestig has handed over the link convenorship to Pierre Tulowitzki. Over the last years, Helene has played an integral part in the growth and well-being of the network. A big thanks to her for her contributions and dedication to NW26!

Co-Convenors
Guri Skedsmo, Anita Nordzell and Simon Clarke have stepped down as co-convenors. A big thanks for all that they have done for the network! New co-convenors have stepped up to give their support to the network. A big thanks and welcome to them!

The co-convenors of NW26 are:

Helene Ärlestig, Sweden
Stefan Brauckmann, Austria
Lawrie Drysdale, Australia
Kirsten Foshaug Vennebo, Norway
Lars Frode Frederiksen, Denmark
David Gurr, Australia
David Kemethofer, Austria
Barbara Kohlstock, Switzerland
Ulf Leo, Sweden
Gerry Macruairic, Ireland
Joanna Madalińska-Michalak, Poland
Petros Pashiardis, Cyprus
Sigríður Margrét Sigurðardóttir, Iceland
Carolyn M. Shields, USA
Howard Stevenson, England
Helen Wildy, Australia

Co-Convenors review the submissions for the network (in a double-blind process). In addition, some of them may help organize things around the network in other ways (for example by giving advice on how to structure the conference program for the network). They also act as a reference group to the link convenor.

The link convenor is appointed by each network to act as first contact and coordinator of the co-convenors. Link convenors are tasked to be the contact person for the EERA Office, Executive Board and Council for any questions related to the network. They also manage the operations of the network and coordinate the ECER program for the network.

As per the discussion and decision in the 2015 network meeting, the link convenor mandate in network 26 will last four years with one possible re-election. Impeachment is possible by the co-conveners or during the network meeting. During the third year an incoming link convenor will be elected to shadow the link convenor with the aim to be confirmed via an election process at the next year’s network meeting
New co-convenors can be suggested by anyone. Interested parties should send a message to the link convenor, detailing their previous experience. The network is looking to maintain a diverse group of co-convenors with regard to gender, age, nationality and expertise.

Network Funding Opportunities

There are several funding opportunities to take advantage of:

• Network Projects
  Budget: 5000 Euros
  
• EERA Season School, Network Season School
  Budget: 5000 Euros
  
• Network-Related Publications
  Budget: 1500 Euros
  

Please contact Link convenor first as an endorsement is required.

The next deadline for all forms of network funding is 1 November 2016. Further information is available at <link _blank>www.eera-ecer.de/networks/network-funding/

Jani Ursin, Network Representative on Council, can also give additional information. E-Mail: <link window for sending>jani.p.ursin@jyu.fi
 
Next conference in Copenhagen 21 – 25 August 2017

ECER 2017 will take place from 22 - 25 August 2017 at the University College Copenhagen, Denmark.
It will be preceded by the annual Emerging Researchers' Conference on August 21 & 22.  

The theme will be “Reforming Education and the Imperative of Constant Change: Ambivalent roles of policy and educational research”

A recurring idea is to make more visible what members from the network haven been working on are currently working on. This could be in the form of a small book exhibition, flyers or joint efforts like a special issue in a journal.

Other issues
Pecha Kucha: The Pecha Kucha presentation format (<link https: en.wikipedia.org wiki pechakucha _blank>en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PechaKucha ) will be introduced at ECER 2017 on a trial basis. Interested researchers are encouraged to submit a proposal for this format.

If you have questions or ideas do not hesitate to contact the Link convenor:
<link window for sending>ptulowitzki@gmail.com or use our webpage <link _blank>www.eera-ecer.de/networks/network26/

Thanks to all that took time to come to the meeting, all together we were over 40 persons at the meeting