Annual Report 2013, Istanbul

The conference in Istanbul in September 2014 was well attended by the participants interested in inclusive education. They could choose from about 90 presentations divided over 30 sessions. The 30 sessions largely comprised individual paper sessions, but this year also a research workshop, a round table and 6 symposia were offered. The proposals were reviewed by a team of 6 reviewers and each proposal was seen by two reviewers.

The convenors policy to have more symposia seems to have had some success. Having more symposia has been on the agenda for some years in the network 4 business meeting. That seems to have had good results. The programme for 2014 will show of this development will be continued.

Another development in line with the convenors policy is the growth of the number of participants from German speaking countries. In the past attendance to network 4 activities from colleagues from German speaking countries was rare, but in Istanbul this seems to have changed. One of the new convenors (prof dr Georg Bieuwer) can perhaps support this development further.   

The number of activities with other networks has however not been  a success story. Despite plans made in Cadiz to organize  sessions with other networks, no proposals were developed and offered for review.