The 18th Research Students’ Education Conference: Call for papers
The 18th Research Students’ Education Conference seeks to bring together newer researchers to experience a student-led and student-focused conference.
It offers an opportunity to present, listen to others, and meet other newer researchers in a friendly and inclusive space. The intended audience for presenters and delegates is postgraduate students, primarily from the University of Leeds School of Education, but students from other Schools, Departments, Faculties, or Universities are welcome and encouraged to participate.
Building on the theme ‘Complexity in Research: Researcher-Participant Dynamic Interactions’, we understand that complexity is transversal to the paths of researchers; however, complexity, far from being a negative element of research practice, nourishes and enriches it by constantly challenging us as learners, researchers and people. To break down the complexity of research, the RSEC18 aims to:
- Host discussions and presentations that show the complex relationships between researchers and participants, and the importance of recognizing the contexts in which these encounters occur.
- Emphasize the importance of cultural sensitivity in research to reflect about the particularities of diverse cultural contexts and how these shape interactions and the research practice itself.
- Reflect on how reciprocal relationships can foster collaboration and how power imbalances can be navigated to empower participants.
- Provide a space to critically examine the researcher’s positionality and identity, exploring their influence on data collection, interpretation, and participant engagement.
- To inspire meaningful discussions on creating long-term impacts and fostering sustainable practices within research
These goals guide the following sub-themes:
- Researcher-participant relationships
- Being sensitive to cultural contexts
- Empowering participants
- Researcher positionality and identity
- Sustainable research practices
Abstracts of up to 250 words (plus references up to 150 words, in Leeds Harvard format please) are invited from final year undergraduates, taught postgraduate students, postgraduate researchers, or early career researchers who have been awarded their doctorate in the last few years (self-defined).
Presentation formats are either a 10-15 minute presentation, followed by five minutes for Q&A, or an A0 poster (either landscape or portrait) to be exhibited throughout the day.
Please submit your abstracts using this MS Form.
The form asks for a short biography (75-100 words) for use in the conference programme. If your abstract is accepted, we will ask you for a headshot, also to be used in the programme. Please include a university contact email and any links to your university researcher profile or social media pages.
Please link your abstract to the conference theme, our aims, and at least one of these sub-themes as indicated on the form.
|
Sub-Theme |
Core Question |
Research Stage |
Unique Focus |
|
1. Reciprocal Relationships |
How to build trust and cooperation? |
Research initiation phase |
Emphasis on establishing trust and a framework for mutual collaboration |
|
2. Cultural Sensitivity |
How to interact in cross-cultural contexts? |
Data collection and analysis phases |
Focus on understanding and adapting to cultural differences |
|
3. Power Dynamics |
How to balance power relations and empower participants? |
Throughout participant interaction |
Emphasis on balancing power dynamics without addressing culture or reflexivity |
|
4. Reflexivity |
How does the researcher’s identity affect interactions and outcomes? |
Data analysis and interpretation phases |
Focus on researcher reflection and the influence of their identity without discussing dynamic relationships |
|
5. Sustainability and Impact |
How do research outcomes create long-term impacts on participants? |
Research conclusion and dissemination phases |
Focus on the long-term impact and sustainability of research findings |
The deadline for submitting an abstract is 5pm GMT on Friday 28 March, and we will respond by the end of April.
The same form can be used to register to attend the conference which takes place at University House, University of Leeds on Thursday 3 July 2025 from 9.00am to 4.30pm. Registration will close on Monday 16 June.
Please note that you can select an option for your abstract to be considered by the Hillary Place Papers editorial team for development into an article for the next edition of the journal. The journal is published annually, with Edition 10 likely to be published in summer 2026. If your abstract is accepted, you will have the option to write an article based directly on the content of your presentation or poster, or reflecting on your experience of presenting or exhibiting at the conference.
Best of Luck!
The Organising Committee of RSEC18:
Ana Karen Reyes Bailon
Anfal Almesbah
Buşra Gokkaya
Joel Friis
Johanna Quina Frustillos
Marianne Talbot
Xiaojia Lyu
For questions or more information please contact us at 18rsec@leeds.ac.uk.
