Conference Details

Venue

Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth, Wales, UK. Organised and hosted by the School of Education and Lifelong Learning, Aberystwyth University http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/sell/

Conference Details

"A Child's World - Working Together for a Better Future" Conference has been devised to frame new concepts in collaborative practice in childhood studies against social, legislative and organisational changes within an international strategic dimension.

In line with embedding Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC), raising standards, promoting pupil participation and developing effective leadership and management, collaborative working is a vital tool in creating effective policy and shared practice.

The following key speakers have confirmed their participation:

  • Leighton Andrews AM, Minister for Education & Skills, Welsh Government.
  • Professor Jouni Välijärvi, National PISA Coordinator, Finnish Institute for Educational Research, University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.
  • Keith Towler, Children’s Commissioner for Wales.
  • Ann Keane, Chief Inspector, Estyn.
  • Eifion Evans, Ceredigion Local Authority.


Focused primarily at an educational research and professional audience, the findings will be relevant across a range of disciplines, including governmental policy formulation, social care and operational delivery of public services. The wide ranging scope of the conference will be highly applicable for national, regional and local government, education professionals and of direct interest to the general public.

The intended output is the publication of a series of papers of academic quality and scholarly importance, providing the opportunity to identify and share best practice amongst subject professionals. To date, over 70 papers will be presented at the conference.

Conference Aim:

Collaborative working in childhood studies.

Conference Objectives:

Examination of three key themes:
  1. Global Citizenship.
  2. Early Years education.
  3. Raising standards.

Actions:

Creation of cross-sector and cross-border networking opportunities for professionals in the fields of child education, training, social work, first-responders, third sector (voluntary groups), government (local, regional and national), academics and parents.

Development of an international body of connected experts to share best practice in policy creation and operational implementation.

Timeliness and significance:

In childhood studies, as in many other fields, a global reduction in government funding, coupled with increases in legislative oversight and organisational change has increased pressure on resources and is driving the need for innovative working practices and development of integrated collaborative working.

The conference is designed to enhance the potentialities of collaborative working, focusing on standardisation of educational best practice, resource maximisation and adding value through effective leadership and management. The underpinning theme is one of the social, economic and wellbeing advantages of inclusiveness. The conference will draw on good examples of collaborative working internationally as well as nationally. The conference will be a worldwide congress of interest and significance to a global audience, with delegates anticipated to be attracted from many countries.