EERA NW 34. Research on Citizenship Education Season School 2026:On field research in citizenship education

• 11 to 13 June 2026 
• Hosted by the University of Porto (Portugal)
• Applications until 28 February 2026
• Information on acceptance 31 March 2026
• Welcome webinar (online) 5 May 2026
• View the call for applications
• Click here to submit (link will be activated soon)
• Academic questions:
  Prof. Dr. Valeria Damiani
  v.damiani2(at)lumsa.it
• Organisational questions:
  Filipa Cesar
  filipacesar(at)fpce.up.pt

Theme and aims

Advance your doctoral research in a collaborative, international environment.
Are you a PhD candidate exploring the complexities of field research in citizenship education? The EERA Network 34 Season School is designed to support emerging researchers in navigating the multifaceted features of citizenship education, from the gap between national policies and classroom reality to the promotion of democratic learning environments at the school and local community level.

The aim of the Season School: Improve your field research methodology
Conducting field research in education requires a sophisticated toolkit. This programme provides an in-depth exploration of:

• Qualitative & quantitative methods
• Mixed methods research
• Field study design

Programme and keynote speakers

A dynamic learning experience
You will join a vibrant academic community and build a network of peers and researchers in the field of citizenship education research.

Moving beyond traditional seminars, our multidisciplinary approach includes:

• Welcome webinar on 5 May, 2026
• Keynote speeches by international experts in the field.
• Workshops & group work to refine your research instruments.
• Roundtables & discussions to debate current challenges and emerging trends.
• Mentorship: Unique spaces for sharing and debate, where emerging researchers interact directly with peers and experienced researchers.

Join us in Porto

• Dates:
  • 5 May, 2026 (welcome webinar, online)
  • 11th – 13th June 2026 (in-person Season School)
• Location: University of Porto, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences (FPCEUP)
• Schedule: Daily sessions from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
• Host institution: CIIE - Centre for Research and Intervention in Education in association with SPCE – Portuguese Society for Educational Research

Application / Costs / Terms of Registration

EERA Network 34 Season School: Call for applications

To submit your application:link to application form (will be activated soon)

Application period: 1 – 28 February 2026

Who can apply and what does the application include?
Applicants are doctoral students whose field research focuses on citizenship education in formal, non-formal or informal educational contexts. The EERA Network 34 Season School aims to support emerging researchers in navigating the multifaceted features of citizenship education, from the gap between national policies and classroom reality to the promotion of democratic learning environments at the school and local community level. Preferably the participant should be an early-stage or mid-stage doctoral student in order to most benefit from the Season School.

The application process includes:

• Extended abstract of your research (1000 words max., excluding references, format PDF)
  • Title
  • Three keywords
  • Research objectives and research questions of your PhD project
  • Conceptual framework
  • Methodology of the field research
  • Preliminary or expected findings
  • References
• Short CV (200 words max.)
• Motivation (200 words max., motivation for participating in the Season School and the relevance for your PhD trajectory)
• Letter of recommendation from supervisor(s). You can find guidelines for this letter here.

Applications that do not meet these formal and substantive requirements will not be considered for selection.

Important information: Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance. Due to the interactive and intensive nature of the Season School, the number of participants is limited. Applicants with the highest evaluation scores will be given priority for admission.

• Applications: until 28 February 2026
• All applications must be in English.
• The Season School will be held in English.

Season School costs
Participation fee

• Standard Fee:€150 (Residents of High GDP countries)
• *Reduced Fee:€50 (Residents of Low GDP countries)

What’s included?

• Full access to all Season School sessions and workshops
• Accommodation for the duration of the programme
• Daily lunches, coffee breaks, and one social dinner
• A guided field trip to Porto

Participants must cover their travel costs. Participants are expected to actively take part for the duration of the Season School.

*Eligibility for reduced fees
Reduced fees are based on your country of residence, not your country of origin. Following EERA’s guidelines, the eligible regions for the low GDP (Gross Domestic Product) reduction include:

• Europe: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine.
• Africa & Latin America: All countries (except Bahamas).
• Asia: All countries (except Bahrain, Brunei, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Macau, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE).

Students from all other countries need to register as residents from high GDP Countries.

Terms of registration

• The registration of participation is binding.
• The participation fees are owed upon registration.
• If you pay via bank transfer, you may incur banking charges for international transactions. Please make sure that you cover these charges so that EERA receives full payment.
• Participation is not guaranteed until full payment of the registration fee is received.
• Payments will be fully refunded if the conference is cancelled by the organiser. In that case, the organiser will have no further liability to the client. Registrations remain valid if the conference has to be postponed.
• The Season School programme may be subject to change.
• Your email address will be used for distributing information on the current conference. It may also be used for information on EERA publications (e.g. EERJ), EERA activities and information about educational research and publishing.
• Please register and pay by 30 April 2026. In case of cancellation, you will get 80 % of your fees refunded if you cancel up to 1 month prior to the Season School. If you cancel later than one month before the Season School begins, your fee will not be refunded.
• I understand that a photographer appointed by the organisers will take photos during the central conference events such as socials, coffee breaks, keynotes etc. I understand that these photos may be used by the organisers on their website and in social media during the conference and in the future. I am aware that if I notice at any time during the conference that I am being photographed, I have the option of informing the photographer that I do not want my image to be used in the manner described above.

University of Porto

University of Porto (U.Porto) is a leading teaching and scientific research institution with over a century of continuous development, recognised nationally and internationally for its academic excellence and scientific research output. It consistently ranks among the best Portuguese universities and one of the foremost institutions in Europe, combining high-quality teaching with a strong research ecosystem that addresses societal and economic challenges.

University of Porto hosts a broad range of academic programmes across its faculties, underpinned by extensive infrastructure, libraries and study resources, supporting a vibrant and intellectually stimulating environment for students and researchers.

With a commitment to internationalisation, the university attracts scholars from around the world and fosters collaborative research and academic exchange.

(Source: https://www.up.pt/portal/en/)

The Season School Venue: Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences (FPCEUP)
The Season School will take place in and around the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, located at Rua Alfredo Allen.

Text from the website, translated into English:
The Faculty of Psychology and Education Science celebrated its 42nd anniversary on 5 November 2022, maintaining its reputation as a leading institution in training, research and community service in the fields of Psychology and Education Sciences. The Faculty has qualified professionals who have played major roles in various spheres of Portuguese society and in fields such as education, justice, health, public administration, business and socio-cultural animation, and more. FPCEUP benefits from the demographic concentration and the dynamic business environment of the north of Portugal and is increasingly conscious of the role that the Faculty’s fields play in various human and social, individual, collective and societal activities.

The education provided by FPCEUP is highly sought after by top Portuguese students and international and Erasmus students alike, which fosters a diverse teaching and learning environment, cementing the Faculty’s status as a mature, responsible, plural and inclusive institution.

Currently, about 2000 students attend the Faculty, distributed between two degrees, in Psychology and in Education Sciences, and several post-graduate courses – masters and doctorates – in areas that also include Forensic Sciences, Artistic Education or Human Sexuality.

Besides teaching (which also includes a wide range of continuous training programmes), FPCEUP also carries out R&D activities and provides services to the community through its research institutes and centres (CPUP and CIIE).

Since 2005, FPCEUP has been housed in the building designed by the renowned architect Fernando Távora, located on Campus II (Asprela) of U.Porto.
(Source: https://www.up.pt/portal/en/fpceup/)

Porto

As a UNESCO World Heritage city with a rich past Porto keeps on moving to the pace of modern life. It blends inspiring history with innovative stories and vibrant districts.

Located at the Douro River and with nature and the seaside closeby, Porto is Portugal’s second-largest city. Despite the impressive size of the city’s extended area, the city centre is much more compact, which is perfect for visiting.
(Source: https://visitporto.travel/en-GB)

Travel to Porto
The University of Porto, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences can easily be reached by plane, train, bus or car.

Travel by air
The University of Porto, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences can be reached by car or by public transportation from the international airport Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport:

• By car: via A4 – A3 (approx. 20 min)
• By bus: bus line 604 from Aeroporto to Hospital de São João (approx. 1h) – walk to the faculty (approx. 20 min)
• By metro: metro station Aeroporto, purple line E toward Trindade (city center) – transfer at Trindade station, yellow line D toward Hospital de São João – station Pólo Universitário (approx. 50 min)

Travel by train
From other Portuguese cities or from Spain, long-distance trains arrive in Porto at Campanhã, where you can switch to metro or bus to reach the Faculty.

Contact

Academic questions:
Prof. Dr. Valeria Damiani
v.damiani2(at)lumsa.it

Organisational questions:
Filipa Cesar
filipacesar(at)fpce.up.pt