Conference theme: Education Ideologies and National Development. 

The 11th SAERA Conference was hosted by the University of Free State (UFS), Faculty of Education, Bloemfontein Campus, Economics and Management Sciences (EBW Auditorium). Congratulations to the UFS Local Organising Committee and all respective stakeholders who worked very hard to host a successful SAERA Conference in 2024. 

A glimpse at some conference highlights: 

Day 1: 29 October 2024 

Our Early Career Researchers (ECR) had activities on the first day in the morning. Participation was open for all the pre-conference workshops. Two keynotes were delivered on day 1 in the morning and afternoon. 

The first day ended with several key book launches, a meeting of SIG convenors and an art exhibition to bring day 1 to a close.

• Keynote 1: Navigating Educational Ideologies and National Development Goals as Early Career Researchers – Blandina Manditereza (UFS)
• Workshop 1: Publishing an article in the Journal – Labby Ramrathan
• Workshop 2: Activating Formative Assessment to improve pedagogy in ITE Programmes – Prof Anil Kanjee
• Workshop 3: Post Qualitative inquiry and education: Alternative and arts-based possibilities. – Petro du Preez, Daisy Pillay, Marguerite Muller, and Lesley le Grange
• Meet & Greet: Dr Blanche Hadebe- Ndlovu (UNISA), Prof Mlamuli Hlatshwayo (UJ), and Dr Solomon Chibaya (UFS)

Afternoon programme day 1:

• Keynote 2: Globalization dictates and the conscious decolonization of education ideologies in the Global North – Agreement Jotia

Book launches:

• Labby Ramrathan, Suriamurthee Maistry and Sylvan Blignaut (eds). Critical reflections of teacher education in South Africa, Palgrave MacMillan.
• Chris Reddy & Petro Du Preez (eds.) – Curriculum Studies (in the) Now: Transformations and possibilities
• Chinedu Okeke, Hasina Banu Ebrahim, Mariëtte Koen, & Mzoli Mncanca (eds.) – Guidelines Early Childhood Professional development
• Liezille Jean Jacobs (ed). Rocklands: On Becoming the First Generation of Black Psychologists in Post-Apartheid South Africa. African Minds

Art exhibition: Becoming Academic Differently. Daisy Pillay, Petro du Preez & Marguerite Muller.

Day 2: 30 October 2024

• Keynote 3: “From Early Hominids to AI: Tracing the Evolution of Education and Ideology in South Africa”- Wayne Hugo
• Parallel sessions
• SAERA AGM

Day 2 was concluded with the SAERA AGM. The AGM was preceded by SIG panel discussions. During the conference, discussions were foregrounded to promote the SIGs with a dedicated plenary SIG session led by coordinators.

Day 3: 31 October 2024

• Keynote 4: “Beyond the Margins: Pathways Towards Educational Development”- Brenda Marina
• Parallel sessions
• Gala Dinner and Awards

Day 3 concluded with a SIG Plenary Discussion followed by the Gala Dinner and presentation of Awards [Read more the about the categories of SAERA Awards here: doctoral dissertation, research recognition, research honours].

Day 4: 1 November 2024

• Parallel sessions
• Closing of conference
• Reflections and vote of thanks

The Conference was concluded by critically reflecting on SAERA 2024, summative reflections of 2023 and how the reflections inform our movement towards 2025. 

Key themes for the conference:
The programme was organised according to the following sub-themes:

1. Ideologies and the development of national education policies in the Global North and South.
2. Ideologies and functional education for sustainable development.
3. Ideologies and social transformation in postcolonial societies.
4. Ideological influences in the development of early childhood care and education
5. Higher education, ideologies, citizenship and leadership for sustainable education
6. Ideologies, gender discourses and social transformation
7. Personal ideologies, professional ethics, and teacher professionalism in the 21st century.
8. Obstacles and opportunities to the development of sustainable African indigenous education ideologies
9. Professional ethics and teaching for change in the 21st century.
10. Digital Literacy, information communication technology (ICT) and ideological transformation

Partnerships and collaboration:
The 2024 conference was held in association with the Southern Africa Educational Research Network. SAERA hosted the SAERN delegates as partners in the conference for the first time. After attending the BOLESWANA biennial conference, SAERA members became interested in working as a member of a regional network. The SAERA application was endorsed in 2016 in the biennial conference in Botswana. Today, the regional network’s name is Southern Africa Educational Research Network (SAERN).

For all conference related enquiries contact:
 saeraconference2024@gmail.com