The 2^nd International Conference on

Transformative Education Research and Sustainable Development (TERSD) 2018

(5-8 October 2018, Dhulikhel, Nepal)

“Context-Responsive Wisdom and Knowledge for Sustainable Futures”

Kathmandu University School of Education (KUSOED), Nepal, hosted the first international conference on Transformative Education Research and Sustainable Development (TERSD) from 21-23 October, 2016, in close collaboration with co-organizer Murdoch University School of Education, Australia and with the partial support of UNESCO Kathmandu and Ministry of Education, Nepal. The conference brought together practices, experiences and theoretically informed discussions on the need for transformative education and research. In doing so, it contributed to expanding awareness of our situatedness in the world; and created a harmonious space bringing together the wisdom traditions of both East and West.  It also strengthened and enlarged the network of transformative practitioners by bringing together institutional and individual partners dedicated to share, collaborate, and co-create new ideas for integrated modes of thinking in education and related fields.

Following the aspirational first conference, KUSOED is pleased to announce that it will be hosting The Second International Conference on Transformative Education Research and Sustainable Development from 5 – 8 October, 2018. The major theme of the conference is “Context-Responsive Wisdom and Knowledge for Sustainable Futures”. It aims to provide an opportunity for the expanding community of scholars, practitioners and researchers to share perspectives on local wisdom and knowledge in education. It also aims to build collaboration amongst teachers, teacher educators, community developers, leaders, and researchers across the globe for strengthening social justice and eco-responsive sustainable development approaches in education and educational leadership.

The theme – Context-Responsive Wisdom and Knowledge for Sustainable Futures – has been envisioned to expand conscious awareness of our situatedness (e.g., humanity’s troubled relationship with the Earth) in the context of a neoliberal hegemonized world, which may readily enable us to deeply understand who we are and who we might yet become, as individuals and as social beings. Further, the educational link between context-responsive wisdom and knowledge with sustainable development harnesses local cultural capital; fosters an ethic of planetary stewardship; challenges taken for granted dimensions of our lives; and explores how they impact our ways of knowing and behaving – in order to live more sustainably and with greater sensitivity towards our fellow creatures.

TERSD 2018 includes a series of keynote, oral, poster, and workshop sessions, where over 200 participants will engage deeply in discussions on these issues. We invite researchers, practitioners, activists, students and representatives of universities, educational and research institutions, government organizations, United Nations agencies, International/Non-Governmental Organizations and other agencies inside and outside their own disciplines to come together in our knowledge community through authentic engagement with other scholars and practitioners who believe in the potentiality of context-responsive wisdom, knowledge and research as integral to education for sustainable development.

Conference Theme

Promoting Context-Responsive Wisdom & Knowledge for Sustainable Futures

Conference Sub-Themes

Transformative Education and Innovation

• STEAM education, Contemplative education; Technology-assisted open learning and digital equity; Multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to knowledge; Synthetic integrated modes of thinking; Engaged learning

Transformative Research and Creativity

• Local cosmology and post/enlightenment thinking, Liberatory epistemologies; Non-human dimensions of meaning-making; Mindful/soulful inquiry; Place-based metaphors logics and knowledge traditions

Sustainable Development and Ecology

• Environmental sustainability; Sustainability in economic, social and cultural contexts; Self-governance, self-management and cultural autonomy; Arts and creativity as resources for sustainability; Education for rural transformation

Organizational Leadership and Management

• Organizational ethics and value systems; Entrepreneurial learning and leadership; Managing human resources; Transformative professional development; Place-based organizational leadership and technology

Personal Transformation and Well-being

• Resilient thinking; Holistic living; Healthy community, Positive emotions; Spirituality and compassion; Authentic relationships; Sustainable peace and happiness

 Teachers Professional Development

• Teacher training; Pedagogical approaches; Transformative curriculum; Instructional designs; Assessment and evaluation; Value based education; Innovative teaching approaches

Outcomes

The conference will contribute to promoting local wisdom and knowledge heritages in the field of education, teaching, learning, training, and researching for sustainable development. It will bring together the global networks of educational practitioners dedicated to transformative education for quality, equity and relevance of teaching and learning. The participants will find their conference paper published in the conference proceedings and journal (if they meet the criteria for the journal). Further, the scholarly contents of the conference website will contribute to international dissemination and network building.

Important Dates

Although participants may choose to focus on one or more sub-themes of the conference, it is important to explicitly connect papers, posters and workshops with the main theme of the conference. Abstracts, proposals and full papers may be: (a) uploaded on the conference website or (b) sent as an email attachment to tersd2018@kusoed.edu.np by 30 April 2018. Submission details, formatting, etc. are provided on the website.

Registration

The following registration fees apply for conference participants:

Registration opens: 1 May 2018

Deadline for early bird registration: 30 May 2018

Deadline for standard registration: 31 August 2018

Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements and accommodation.

Organizers

The conference is jointly organized by Kathmandu University, School of Education (KUSOED), Nepal, and Murdoch University, School of Education, Australia, and is supported by UNESCO Kathmandu.

Sponsors

We rely on the generosity of sponsors to make this an affordable event. We welcome donations of products (pens, t-shirts, hats, etc.), food (candies, juices, etc.), and most importantly, money to help us create a successful, educational and entertaining event. This is your chance to get your organization’s name out there and make some good social presence!

Contacts

For more information, please contact;

Peter Charles Taylor (P.Taylor@murdoch.edu.au)

Bal Chandra Luitel (bcluitel@kusoed.edu.np)

Suresh Gautam (sgautam@kusoed.edu.np)

Binod Prasad Pant (binod@kusoed.edu.np)

Shesha Kanta Pangeni (sheshakanta@kusoed.edu.np)

Conference Website

Please check our website ( http://tersd2018.kusoed.edu.np/) for updates on the conference program.