Latest Update: CESA Conference postponed to 2021 (Online Conference)
12TH CESA BIENNIAL CONFERENCE KATHMANDU 2021 (ONLINE)
Learning can be seen as an informal, everyday phenomenon; as a formal, systematised process; or (lying somewhere along an informal-formal spectrum) as a more flexibly-planned and organised ‘non-formal’ activity. Studies of diverse contexts highlight the dynamics of everyday learning and its importance to various communities – something that is often overlooked in research focusing on the formal sector. This is perhaps especially true in societies, such as those of South Asia, where access to institutions of formal education remains highly problematic for many. It is also especially true in situations, such as that of the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020-2021, which require the widespread closure of formal educational institutions and their transfer ‘online’. Realising the potential for life-long learning everywhere depends on understanding how informal learning complements and shapes learning in more formal settings. Comparative perspectives are crucial to an analysis of how different forms of learning interact in different social and cultural contexts, and therefore to efforts to render education more relevant and accessible to various social groups. As a forum for exchanging comparative insights (especially, but not only, in relation to Asia), the 12th Biennial CESA Conference will contribute to bridging the gulf between studies of formal and informal learning. The conference theme is:
Valuing Diversity in Education: Formal and Informal Learning Across Cultures
While keynote and plenary sessions will directly address the overall conference theme, the sub-themes (around which parallel sessions will be organised) are framed quite broadly in order to accommodate a wide range of presentations.
- Ethics, philosophy and the meaning of learning across cultures
- Historical perspectives on learning across Asia
- Curriculum development and ‘skills’
- Assessment + accreditation of learning across the formal-informal divide
- Planning, governance and finance of learning systems (formal and informal)
- Inequalities in access to learning
- Learning, technology and ‘new media’
- Learning to belong – identity formation, political socialisation and values
- Learning for diverse societies
- Learning for sustainable development – the challenge of SDG 4.7
- Learning and the market – shadow education, privatisation, etc.
- ‘Lifelong learning’ and the workplace
- Covid-19 and new challenges for education and learning – across Asia and beyond
In addition to keynotes, plenaries and parallel sessions, the conference will feature panel discussions and a pre-conference writing workshop (to be delivered online).
Due to the continuing disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, it has been decided to conduct this conference online.
If you are interested in presenting, please fill out a “Presenter’s Proposal Form” giving details of your presentation(s) and send it to CESA2020@kusoed.edu.np by March 31 2021.
DOWNLOAD THE PRESENTERS’ PROPOSAL FORM
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DOWNLOAD THE PRESENTERS’ PROPOSAL FORM
For further details, please contact:
CESA 2020 Conference Secretariat, GPO BOX NO 6250, Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: +977-1– 5250524 Email: CESA2020@kusoed.edu.np
Important Dates
Jan 1, 2021 Call for submission open
Mar 31, 2021 Deadline for proposal submission
May 30, 2021 Acceptance notification
Jun 30, 2021 Conference Registration
Sep 23-24, 2021 Pre-Conference Workshop
Sept 24, 2021 CESA Board Meeting
Sept 25-26, 2021 Conference sessions
