The 19th International Conference on Education Research at Seoul National University

The 19th International Conference on Education Research (ICER) was held at Seoul National University from October 17th to 19th, 2018. With the theme of Education for Democracy and Social Justice at the Global, National and Local Contexts, the conference attracted a total of 500 participants, of which 110 came from overseas and approximately 390 from South Korea. There were also around 400 presenters from various universities and institutions. At this conference, one doctoral student from the Ogawa seminar presented his paper (Loleka, B. “The Effects of Language of Instruction on School Performance: The Case of Primary School Bilingual Education in The Democratic Republic of Congo”).

The conference featured seven keynote speakers and guest speakers from around the globe, including Professor Aaron Benavot from the State University of New York at Albany in the USA; the former Director of the UNESCO EFA: Global Monitoring Report; Emeritus Professor Kenneth King from the University of Edinburgh in UK; Professor Melanie Walker from the University of Free State in South Africa; Professor Leon Tikly from the University of Bristol in UK; Professor Fazal Rizvi from the University of Melbourne in Australia; and Dr. Sheldon Shaeffer former Director of UNESCO’s Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau of Education.

All the keynote speakers and guest speakers at the conference framed their presentations around the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs 4.7), stating that by 2030 all global education stakeholders have “to ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.”

The next International Conference on Education Research will be held at Seoul National University on October 16th to 18th, 2019.

Authored by Loleka BERNARD (Doctoral Student)