TEPE conference 2025

TEPE conference 2025

We are delighted to invite you to the 2025 conference of the Teacher Education Policy in Europe Network, which will be held from 21 to 23 May in Zwolle, the Netherlands.

Key theme of this conference is:

TEACHER AND TEACHER EDUCATORS
AS BRIDGES IN SOCIETY:
THE ROLE OF TEACHER EDUCATION PRACTICE, RESEARCH AND POLICY.

Through this theme we aim to addresses pressing societal challenges, such as polarization, socio-economic disparities, and cultural divides, which risk fragmenting communities at multiple levels. Education plays a pivotal role in equipping young people to thrive, to contribute to a democratic society, and to embrace diversity as a strength. Teachers are at the forefront of this mission, building bridges and fostering connectivity and inclusivity in classrooms, schools, and beyond.

As teacher education needs to prepare teachers for their future role, teacher education institutions are challenged to design initial and post-initial teacher education programs that support student teachers and experienced teachers to take that connective role. However, teachers’ educators cannot design and deliver such programs on their own but need the support from researchers, stakeholders and policy makers who can help to provide necessary input, concepts and conditions.

This conference is based on the notion that new generations will play a key role in creating a society of shared values and community. In order to achieve this we need teachers who can connect at different levels. This path starts with strengthening and inspiring teacher education practice, research and policy across Europe.

The Teacher Education Policy in Europe Network

The Teacher Education Policy in Europe Network TEPE is an informal academic network that brings together stakeholders around teacher education, focusing on improving the quality of teacher education in Europe. TEPE’s mission is based on the recognition that teacher education is a concern of teacher education practitioners, researchers and policy makers at the regional, national and European level. Therefore, developing teacher education policies calls for a collaborative dialogue of all these actors and the TEPE network aims to create a platform that facilitates this dialogue. The network has no formal membership but is open for teacher education practitioners, researchers and policy makers by engaging in the key activities of the network like the annual TEPE conference, online webinars and book publications.

Subthemes

Within the wide overall theme, we welcome contributions both from a practice, research and policy perspective, focusing on the following subthemes:

Subtheme 1:
Connective teachers at classroom level: how can teacher educators support their students to face divisions within classrooms and create connective classroom cultures where every learner feels valued, recognized and respected by teachers and classmates?

Subtheme 2:
Connective teachers at school level: How can teacher education foster a culture of collaboration and shared responsibility in schools? What school structures and policies are needed to support such collaboration?

Subtheme 3:
Connective teachers at local or national level: How can teacher education prepare teachers to make connections with parents and local stakeholders? How can curricula integrate interprofessional collaboration to address community needs?

Subtheme 4:
Connective teachers at a European level: How can the European context support professional exchange and collaboration between teachers and teacher educators from different countries and cultures, to support mutual learning?

Keywords connected to these subthemes include the following: connectivity, collaboration, inclusiveness & diversity, networking, democratic values and empowerment.

Call for papers

This call for proposals is open to researchers, academics, graduate students, and practitioners who are actively engaged in the field of (teacher) education or strongly related and intertwined with (teacher) education. We welcome submissions from both individual researchers and research teams.

We welcome contributions that focus on (aspects of) the conference theme and its subthemes. As the conference theme focuses on connection and exchange, we encourage contributions that use interactive formats and stimulate collaboration between participants during the conference. Therefore, we aim to structure contributions in such a way that connection and exchange is stimulated by active discussions, group sessions, open debate, etc.

We invite proposals within the following suggested formats:

  • Discussion papers that invite the audience to engage in an active dialogue.
  • Group sessions/round tables focusing on issues and dilemmas within teacher education practice, policy or research.
  • Discussion symposia with 3 to 5 short, related presentations of recent research projects and ample room for discussion with participants.
  • Feedback sessions where presenters ask for feedback on research plans, research tools or outcomes.
  • Individual research papers with a short presentation or outcomes (max 10 minutes) and ending with an open question or dilemma that stems from the research project.
  • Open Space for teacher education practice: We invite teacher educators who practice connection and collaboration in their daily work with students to share their experiences.

Suggestions for other interactive formats are very much welcomed!

Deadline for submitting abstracts has passed.

Practical issues

The TEPE 2025 conference is a collaborative event organized by Viaa University of Applied Sciences in Zwolle, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam and Radboud University in Nijmegen, in close collaboration with the TEPE board.

The conference will be hosted by Viaa University in Zwolle. Viaa is a small university focusing on education, social work, nursing and theology.

Zwolle is a medium-sized city with around 133.000 inhabitants. Zwolle has a rich hanseactic history and a beautiful and lively historical city center. The city has a 1 one hour non-stop intercity train connection from the airport (Schiphol Amsterdam) to the city center. The university is 15 minutes walk away from the railway station and 10 minutes’ walk from the city center.

Zwolle

The conference schedule will include an opening session on Wednesday 21 May 2025 from 16:00, with a welcome address, keynote and welcome reception. Thursday is dedicated to parallel sessions with symposia, presentations, active debate and a short keynote. On Thursday evening an opportunity will be given to collaborate with conference members over dinner (price not included in the conference fee). On Friday the conference ends at lunchtime after a final keynote, parallel sessions and a wrap-up session.

The conference will be organized as a physical conference. Remote presentations are not included. The conference language is English.

To participate in the conference a conference fee of € 215 must be paid beforehand. This fee includes participation at the conference, the opening reception on Wednesday, coffee and tea during breaks, and lunch on Thursday and Friday. Attendance at the conference dinner on Thursday evening is at your own expense.

We look forward receiving your research proposals and to welcome you to the TEPE-conference of 2025 in Zwolle, the Netherlands!

 

Logos TEPE

More information

  • Dr. Ingrid Paalman-Dijkenga, Viaa University of Applied Sciences, Zwolle, The Netherlands
  • Prof. Dr. Paulien Meijer, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  • Dr. Marco Snoek, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands
  • Drs. Ina Cijvat, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands
  • Dr. Aimie Brennan, Marino Institute of Education, Ireland
  • Assoc. Prof. Angela Canny, Mary Immaculate College, Ireland
  • Drs. Ina Cijvat, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands
  • Prof. Maria Assunção Flores, University of Minho, Portugal
  • Maria Antoinetta Impedovo, Aix-Marseille University, France
  • Prof. Asst. Dr. Fjolla Kacaniku, Universkty of Prishtina, Kosovo
  • Assoc. Prof. Nina Kilbrink, Karlstad University, Sweden
  • Assoc. Prof. Anna Lindqvist, Umeå University, Sweden
  • Prof. Joanna Madalińska-Michalak, University of Warsaw, Poland
  • Prof. Dr. Paulien Meijer, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  • Prof. Ingrid Paalman-Dijkenga, Viaa University of Applied Sciences, Zwolle, The Netherlands
  • Assoc. Prof. Helle Plauborg, School of Education, Aarhus University, Denmark
  • Prof. Marco Snoek, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands
  • Dr. Kirsi Marjaana Wallinheimo, University of Helsinki, Finland
  • Dr. T. Spoelstra, Viaa University of Applied Sciences, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
  • Submission of abstracts: 6th February 2025 (Midnight CET)
  • Abstract Acceptance Notice: 14 February 2025
  • Registration will be open from 1 February 2025
  • Registration Deadline: 1 May 2025
  • Conference dates: 21-23 May 2025
Wednesday 21 May 2025 from 16:00 Opening session with a welcome address, keynote and welcome reception
Thursday Parallel sessions with symposia, presentations, active debate and a short keynote
Thursday evening
(€ 60 not included in the conference fee)
Collaborate over dinner
Friday, closing at 12.00 PM Final keynote, parallel sessions and a wrap-up session

When the detailed programme is out (expected april 2025), you will find it here.

The conference fee of TEPE 2025 will be € 215. This fee includes participation at the conference, the opening reception on Wednesday May 21st at 16:00, coffee and tea during breaks, and lunch on Thursday and Friday. Transport and accomodation are not included. Attendance at the conference dinner on Thursday evening is at your own expense. This will be in the city center of Zwolle, for an additional € 60, which can be indicated on the registration form.

On the website Visit Zwolle you can find all the highlights of this beautiful hanseactic city. Here you find all the must sees, must eats and suggestions for hotels that you need. For getting around with public transport we recommend this website. Book a city tour with a bicycle taxi or rent a bike and cycle around yourself.

Questions? Don’t hesitate to email us on onderzoek@viaa.nl.