Purpose of the Conference

Currently the scene of education and development in the “South” or the so called developing world is dominated by agendas of donor agencies and foreign aid. Typically the funding agencies link aid with evidence of effective utilization of funds with concomitant research methodologies to study impact and outcomes. This situation raises and important question, Whether or not research methods in education are universal? In her seminal works Professor Renuka Vithal has argued that differences in context and culture require the development of different methods, and even definitions, of research.

The main objective of the proposed conference is to present and discuss examples of research methodologies and methods from a range of contexts mainly from the South , and use these examples to draw out and discuss key issues for the research in education in diverse settings. Issues will relate to ethics, methods and techniques, role of technology, policy or theoretical aspects.

Outcome/s

Invited featured speakers with experience, expertise and interest in this area will present ideas for deliberations. Professor Renuka Vithal, Dean Faculty of Education, University of Kwa Zulu Natal has kindly consented to be the keynote speaker at the conference. Other participants are likely to be educational researchers, academics and research students from Pakistan . A small group of participants from the Institute of Education London would also participate in the event. A draft programme is here.

The conference proceedings are expected to lead to an edited book based on the papers presented. The publication will primarily consist of a collection of descriptions and analyses of educational research settings in different parts of the world. The book will be, designed as much to prompt academics and researchers to reflect on their own practice as to impart information or ideas. It could be a valuable resource as textbook in research methods courses in Education offered in universities and other institutions of higher education and as a resource for academicians engaged in research in diverse setting.

Funding

The conference is partly supported by HEC-BC Link award. The keynote speaker would be funded through the generous contribution of Professor Dylan Wiliam of Institute of Education, University of London, UK .