ERC Tampere Highlights
- The 2026 Emerging Researchers’ Conference (ERC) welcomed 587 participants from 63 countries and featured 357 presentations. These figures demonstrated its growing international reach and the value of a dedicated space where emerging researchers can share their work, exchange ideas and develop academic connections. The programme combined paper sessions, poster presentations and Ignite Talks, providing varied opportunities for research dissemination and discussion.
- The well-attended Newcomers’ Welcome helped first-time participants navigate the conference and meet the ERG team.
- Feedback collected from 62 participants at the ERG Network Meeting highlighted the supportive and collaborative atmosphere, interactive session formats, accessible presentations and opportunities for informal exchange.
- Richard Budd’s keynote, “Making Space for Socially Just Academic Practice,” was particularly well received. It explored opportunities to advance social justice through teaching and research.
- Further opportunities for intellectual engagement included the interactive session “For Slow Reading and Criticality in Accelerating Academia”. Workshops developed with EERA Networks 9 and 26 addressed new international datasets and the potential of artificial intelligence to support responses to crises in school organisations.
- Additional capacity building opportunities included the interactive session “For Slow Reading and Criticality in Accelerating Academia,” a workshop addressing scholarship and high-level thinking in doctoral research, and a seminar involving the chief editors of the European Educational Research Journal. Bursaries supported the participation of 27 emerging researchers from different countries and academic contexts.
- Lunchtime activities introduced participants to EERA and enabled exchanges with academics from Finnish universities.
- The City of Tampere Welcome Reception at the Old City Hall, alongside other social activities, created further opportunities to build connections, and has been really appreciated.
- During ERC, two initiatives were launched with a dedicated panel: Emerging Research in Education, a Diamond Open Access journal, and Eduresearch.net, a digital platform designed to support networking and collaboration throughout the year.