International conference explores how education can promote social justice

The sixth biennial conference between Beijing Normal University and the UCL Institute of Education (IOE) took place in Beijing last week (May 12-13).

Academics, researchers and practitioners in education from around the world attended the conference, which explored the impact of globalisation on education systems and institutions. The conference highlighted the fact that an increasingly interconnected world can exacerbate differences, and focused on the critical role that education plays in overcoming discriminations and promoting social justice.

Professor Becky Francis, Director of the IOE, gave a keynote speech that focused on population and social mobility. It  looked at the educational high attainment of British Chinese pupils, and the way that Chinese educational success are presented in the media.

Professor Diana Laurillard, Chair of Learning with Digital Technologies, also gave a keynote speech, which showed theory-driven examples of how we use online courses for the mobility of ideas, and how such courses can help to meet the challenge of equity in education.

Other attendees from the IOE included Professor Hugh Starkey, Dr Mark Freeman, Dr Manolis Mavrikis and Dr Clare Brooks, who gave presentations. IOE alumni from across China also attended the conference and gave presentations.

Links

• Q&A with Professor Becky Francis
• Professor Diana Laurillard's research profile
• Q&A with Professor Hugh Starkey
• Dr Mark Freeman's research profile
• Q&A with Dr Manolis Mavrikis
• Dr Clare Brooks' research profile