Hope just means another world might be possible, not promised, not guaranteed. Hope calls for action[1]
In a world of unprecedented change, complexity and polycrisis, communities face many challenges. As educators, how do we ensure that our voices and values are not lost amongst the surrounding noise and despair? Is what we are teaching adequate to the times we are living in? How do we ensure that education can be a force for positive change and renewal? Central to this process is the belief that education enables change-makers – young people and educators across providers and settings, researchers, practitioners and policy makers – who can act in solidarity with each other and their communities.
This conference will engage with the idea of radical hope and its potential to direct us towards more just and sustainable futures, not yet fully imagined[2]. It will also respond to UNESCO guidance to build on ‘existing positive efforts’[3], by celebrating the legacy of transformative work already underway and creating space to share research, practices and policies that can inspire action for change. By learning from one another, we strengthen our common ground.
Our Call for Contributions is currently live.
We welcome 300-word proposals from a range of practitioners, researchers and educators (deadline 20th July 2026).
[1] Solnit, R. 2024. Hope in the Dark. Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities [2] Lear, J. 2006. Radical Hope, Ethics in the Face of Cultural Devastation [3] https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/recommendation-education-peace-human-rights-and-sustainable-development-implementation-guide