NW 01. Professional Learning and Development Spring School

NW01 Spring School 2026
"Academic Writing and Research in an Era of AI – Concerns and Opportunities for Professional Learning in Education in Europe"
  • 21–23 April 2026
  •  ICAM West University of Timisoara, Romania
  • Application deadline: 18 January 2026

NW01: Professional Learning and Development network of the European Educational Research Association (EERA) invites applications from emerging researchers (doctoral candidates, post-doctoral researchers, and early career scholars) to participate in the NW01 Spring School 2026.

This Spring School focuses on how artificial intelligence is reshaping academic writing, research practices, and professional learning in education, with particular attention to ethical, methodological, and professional implications in a European context.

Partners: Emerging Researchers Group (EERA), Journal of Professional Development in Education (PDiE), The Romanian Educational Research Association (ARCE), and The Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (West University of Timisoara)

What to Expect: Programme Highlights
The Spring School offers an intensive, interactive three-day programme combining keynotes, hands-on workshops, collaborative sessions, and networking activities. Participants will:

  • Explore AI-assisted academic writing and research through both theoretical and practical lenses;
  • Engage in small-group workshops focused on writing, publishing, ethics, and research dissemination;
  • Receive direct feedback from experienced researchers and journal editors;
  • Develop international peer networks and opportunities for collaboration within NW01.

Key Themes Across the Three Days

  • AI and the evolution of academic writing in professional learning and development;
  • Ethical challenges and academic integrity in AI-supported research;
  • Publishing in high-quality journals in AI-influenced contexts;
  • Collaborative research practices across Europe;
  • Research impact and dissemination using AI tools.

Financial Support and Accommodation

  • EERA bursaries: EERA supports participation by offering travel bursaries of 200 EUR per selected participant.
  • Affordable accommodation: The West University of Timisoara has reserved 25 student accommodation places, available at student rates, which are significantly lower than local hotel prices.

Please note: places at the Spring School are limited to 25 participants.

How to Apply
Application Documents

Applicants should prepare one single PDF file containing:

  1. Short academic CV (maximum 2 pages)
  2. One-page statement of thematic interest, explaining how your doctoral or post-doctoral research connects to:
    • the Spring School theme (Academic Writing and Research in an Era of AI), and
    • NW01’s focus on Professional Learning and Development
  3. Commitment statement (maximum 300 words) confirming your willingness to produce an individual or collaborative EERA Blog post following the Spring School

Application Procedure

  1. Complete the online application form:
    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSftbSOjrufqIjKHB3buwqXPk49DlTNqVIYkrfqhoNlO0VecWQ/viewform
  2. Email your single PDF file to: mihaela.mitescu(at)e-uvt.ro
    Subject line: Application – NW01 Spring School 2026

Application deadline: 18th of January, 2026

Season School Mission

The aim of the ‘European Educational Research Association’ (EERA) is to further high quality educational research for the benefit of education and society. High quality research not only acknowledges its own context but also recognises wider, transnational contexts with their social, cultural and political similarities and differences. To accomplish this, engagement and support for the next generation of European researchers is essential.  EERA season schools bring together early career researchers and PhD students from a number of nations to share and discuss their research and experiences with experts within their own field of research, in order to further the professional development of emerging researchers.