SIG 4 & SIG 17 Conference 2024

Theme

Navigating the Changing Landscape: Embracing Innovation and Evidence in Higher Education

The Joint 2024 Conference of the EARLI Special Interest Groups (SIGs) 4 (Higher Education) and 17 (Methods in Learning Research) is scheduled to take place at Utrecht, the Netherlands from September 25-27, 2024.

In today’s dynamic and diverse world, higher education institutions face the challenge of imparting knowledge to students while equipping them with the necessary skills to navigate an ever-changing landscape. The evolving demands of the labor market require higher education institutions to foster adaptability and provide students with vital transferable competencies, including interdisciplinary collaboration, effective communication, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving abilities. To meet these demands, innovative pedagogical approaches have gained significant popularity in enhancing the skill sets of university students. By embracing innovation and evidence, higher education can pave the way for a transformative future. Through scientific exploration and the exchange of ideas in our next joint SIG04 and SIG 17 conference, we aim to contribute to the ongoing discourse surrounding the changing landscape of higher education. Our ultimate goal is to inspire actionable initiatives that enable educators and higher education institutions to effectively prepare students for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. By embracing innovation and evidence-based practices, we can ensure that higher education remains relevant, impactful, and aligned with the needs of students and the broader society.

Bringing together two long-standing EARLI SIGs provides an opportunity to initiate, foster and consolidate synergies and collaborations in research areas present in both communities. In doing so, we hope the conference opens new perspectives to each other’s interests which are wide-ranging.

We warmly welcome you to the EARLI SIG 04 & 17 conference in Utrecht!

For any inquiries about the conference, please contact us here

Keynotes

Mari Murtonen (University of Turku)

Mari Murtonen is a Professor of Higher Education Pedagogy and the Director of the UTUPEDA Centre for University Pedagogy at the University of Turku. She is the Executive Editor-in-Chief of the Finnish Journal of University Pedagogy. Her main research areas include higher education teachers' development of pedagogical expertise in both traditional and digital environments, as well as students' development of scientific thinking and research skills during university education. Webpage: https://www.utu.fi/en/people/mari-murtonen

Embracing Evidence-based Understanding: Learning and Teaching of Research in Higher Education

Jan Vermunt (Eindhoven University of Technology)

Jan Vermunt is a Professor of Learning Sciences and Educational Innovation at Eindhoven University of Technology. Before that, he has worked as a research assistant at the University of Amsterdam, an assistant professor at Tilburg University, associate professor at Leiden University, and full professor at the universities of Maastricht, Utrecht and Cambridge. His expertise area are the learning sciences, with a focus on teaching and student learning in higher education, and teachers' learning and professional development. He served as Editor-in-Chief of Learning and Instruction, an EARLI flagship journal and one of the leading journals in the world in the field of Educational Research. Webpage: https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/jan-vermunt

Innovating Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

Presentation Formats

The conference will include the following conference formats, all of which are designed to trigger deep conversations between participants.

Paper presentations: This format allows researchers to present their empirical or theoretical work. Presentations have a duration of 20 minutes (15 minutes for the presentation and 5 minutes for discussion).

Symposia: Symposia consist of 4 closely related papers, with each paper allotted 12 minutes for presentation and 3 minutes for clarification questions. Following the presentations, a discussant will lead a 10-minute discussion, followed by a 20-minute exchange with the audience. Multiple time slots have already been reserved for this presentation format.

Guided poster presentations: Please provide the scientific posters in portrait format and A0 size. We plan for substantial-length and high-attendance poster sessions. The sessions will start with 3-minute blitz presentations in plenary, ensuring enough time for discussion to make this an interactive format. Please do not use a PowerPoint presentation for this short pitch! Please prepare yourself to capture the audience's interest in just a few sentences. We will be strict on time, so it is your responsibility to stay within the 2-minute limit. Poster sessions will last 60 minutes. The audience may offer their viewpoints and share their experiences with similar tools or different tools for the same purpose.

Collaborative space: This format allows presenters to share and discuss empirical work at an early stage, such as research ideas, work in progress, or experiments with new ideas or tools. Presentations last around 20 minutes (possibly supported by printouts), followed by 10 minutes for discussion and clarification questions. This is just an indication of how we envision collaborative spaces to function. Based on the needs of the presenting author, we allow for more flexibility. Please ensure that your session does not exceed 1 hour and 45 minutes in total.

See below for a suggestion on how to structure your presentation.

Session organizers present themselves and their current ideas (which they submitted to the conference) in max. 20 minutes (possibly supported by printouts). These presentations should include the following items:

goal of project ideas (e.g., grant submission, publication),
topic area,
(likely) research methods,
planned outcomes.

Participants split up into several subgroups with each at least one facilitator, based on their interests. This phase may take from 30 to 60 minutes (depending on the total time frame). In each subgroup, participants present themselves and their current ideas (if applicable) very shortly; an in-depth discussion of collaboration possibilities follows.

The last 30 to 45 minutes of the session are used for bringing together the ideas discussed in the subgroups. Session organizers will present their views in a short wrap-up (max. 15 minutes), followed by a final plenary discussion. In the subgroup phase, it is of paramount importance that participants (other than the organizers) are motivated to express and (further) develop their own (and collaborative) research ideas.

Program

Conference Program

The finalized conference program is now available! You can view the complete program in Notion here, and find a quick overview of the schedule with timeslots here.

We warmly invite you to explore our beautiful city through our social activities. To register for the dinner and social activities, please click here. Registration is required, with no fee for the social activities, only for the dinner.

Please note: Limited spots are available for the social activities: 45 for the walking tour, 70 for the boat tour, and 100 tickets for dinner. Please register as soon as possible as spots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration deadline is September 16th, 2024.

Opening Reception - Utrecht Science Park

We are happy to invite you all to the opening reception of the SIG04 & SIG17 Conference in Utrecht on Wednesday, September 25th, at the Utrecht Science Park. Experience the vibrant campus atmosphere while enjoying traditional Dutch borrel and drinks. This event provides an excellent opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with fellow researchers in a relaxed and welcoming setting. No registration is required - simply come and be part of an evening dedicated to fostering connections and collaboration.

Location: Victor J. Koningsberger building, Cosmos 1.26 lecture hall

Date: 25 September 2024 I Time: 18:45 - 21:00

Social Activities

1. Walking Tour - Explore Utrecht's Hidden Gems!

Discover Utrecht's rich medieval history with your guide. See historic sites, charming canals, monastery gardens, and many more hidden treasures.

Date: 26 September 2024 I Time: 18:00 - 19:30

2. Explore Utrecht by Boat!

On this boat tour along the Oudegracht and Stadsbuitengrachten, you will enjoy guided commentary detailing the rich history and landmarks of Utrecht. Drinks will be served on board, enhancing your experience as you take in the scenic beauty of the city.

Date: 26 September 2024 I Time: 18:00 - 19:30

Dinner

Join us for the dinner on September 26, 2024, at the historic Leeuwenbergh venue. Enjoy a warm welcome with a variety of drinks, including non-alcoholic options, followed by a delectable four-course walking dinner buffet. The evening will feature a tailored informal setting with extra standing tables, bar stools, and cozy seating areas to foster meaningful conversations and networking. Don't miss this exceptional opportunity to connect and celebrate in an iconic location.

Menu: Enjoy Mediterranean-Inspired Dishes

Location: Gasthuis Leeuwenbergh, Servaasbolwerk 1a, 3512 NK Utrecht

Date: 26 September 2024 I Time: 20:00 - 24:00

Please note that the conference dinner is not included in the registration fee.

Registration

The registration is now closed, and no further registrations are being accepted!

The conference fee covers registration, coffee breaks, lunch, the evening reception on the first day of the conference, and social activities.

Cancellation Policy

Conference Registration Fee: If you cancel before July 1st, 2024 (GMT 23:59), an administration fee of 60% will be applied (resulting in a 40% refund). No refunds will be issued after July 1st, 2024. Cancellations must be made via email.

Overview Program

Manual - How to Download your Invoice

Book of Abstracts

Submission Thresholds

JURE

1. JURE Workshops

What’s more? You will have a chance to participate in expert-led workshops focusing on skills relevant for JURE researchers.

Workshop 1: “I want to share my data. But how?”

Wednesday, 25th of September (16:00 - 17:45; Room 5.7/5.8)

Dr. Jürgen Schneider

Sharing data enables reproducibility, replication, and reuse. It increases trust and facilitates research syntheses. There are many reasons why research funders and journals mandate researchers to open their data. After exploring cultural change towards Open Science, in this workshop we go through options to sharing various kinds of data for different purposes, their conditions, and standards to make data sharing a success.

Workshop 2: “Mixed-methods research in education”

Thursday, 26th of September (14:00 - 15:45; Room 5.7/5.8)

Prof. Dr. Andreas Gegenfurtner & Sylvia Gabel

The workshop on mixed-methods research in education aims to provide doctoral students and junior researchers with a comprehensive understanding of this versatile approach to inquiry. Mixed-methods research combines qualitative and quantitative methods to offer a more holistic perspective, enriching the depth and breadth of educational research endeavors. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and hands-on activities, participants will leave the workshop equipped with the knowledge and skills to design, conduct, and analyze mixed-methods research in the field of education.

2. Mentoring Lunches

As a special treat for all of our JURE members, we've come up with the format of the mentoring lunches. On the 26th September from 13:00–14:00pm during lunchtime you will have the chance to eat and chat with senior researchers in an informal atmosphere.

From SIG 4: Taiga Brahm | Franziska Zellweger | Jan Vermunt

From SIG 17: Andreas Gegenfurtner | Judith Schoonenboom

3. Best of JURE Papers

Honoring the outstanding achievements of our JURE participants, we will give out presents to the best four presentations, based on reviewers’ scores, during the closing ceremony.

Important Information for the conference

1. Please note to bring your own laptop. HDMI cables will be available for connection with the projector.

2. For reasons of sustainability, we ask you to bring your own water bottles to help reducing waste. For the same reason we do not offer goodie bags, but instead, we offer free social activities - experiences matter more than objects!

3. For better orientation, we summarize all important locations here. Click on the locations to open them on Google Maps.

- Conference Venue: Neude Library

- Conference Venue: La Vie

- Opening Reception

- Conference Dinner

- Meeting Point: Walking Tour

- Meeting Point: Boat Tour

Important Dates

Please consider the following important dates:

Submission Opens

31 October 2023
Submission Deadline

11 February 2024
Reviewer Deadline

29 March 2024
Notification of Acceptance

26 April 2024
Start of Registration (Early Bird)

1 May 2024
Early Bird and Presenter Registration Deadline

10 June 2024
Social Activities and Dinner Registration Deadline

16 September 2024
SIG4 + 17 Joint Conference in Utrecht, the Netherlands

25 to 27 September 2024

Venue

Welcome to Utrecht!

The conference will take place at the beautiful and centrally located venues of La Vie Utrecht and Neude Library from September 25-27, 2024.

Discover Utrecht & Utrecht University: Start your VR experience now!

About Utrecht University
Established in 1636 and situated in the heart of the Netherlands, Utrecht University stands as one of Europe’s premier research institutions. Situated in a highly competitive region, the university was shortlisted for the Global Teaching Excellence Award in 2017. Renowned for its broad spectrum of fundamental and socially impactful research, Utrecht University fosters interdisciplinary collaboration both within and beyond its campus. Beyond its global reputation for research excellence, the university is celebrated for its innovative and inclusive approach to education. With a longstanding commitment to pioneering teaching methods, Utrecht University adopts the Utrecht Educational Model as its guiding philosophy. This approach yields exceptional academic achievements for our diverse student body, which comprises over 35,000 students enrolled in 45 bachelor’s programs and 140 master’s programs. For further information, please visit our official website.

Travel and Accommodation

Discover Utrecht

Welcome to the charming city of Utrecht, one of the oldest and most enchanting cities in the Netherlands. Utrecht boasts a picturesque medieval city center, stunning canals, and iconic landmarks like the towering Dom Tower. This vibrant city seamlessly combines its historic charm with a bustling student atmosphere, offering a plethora of events, diverse dining options, cozy cafés, and captivating attractions. Explore the best of both worlds as you immerse yourself in Utrecht's rich heritage and lively contemporary culture.

Getting to the Conference Venues

Utrecht's central location makes it a convenient hub for participants from all corners of the globe.

La Vie address: St Jacobsstraat 61, 3511 BP Utrecht, Netherlands

Neude Library address: Neude 11, 3512 AE Utrecht, Netherlands

For International Travelers: If you are flying in from abroad, Utrecht is just a short 30-minute train ride from Schiphol International Airport, situated just outside of Amsterdam. Hop on a direct train departing every fifteen minutes, and you will find yourself at Utrecht Central Train Station in approximately 34 minutes. We strongly recommend choosing the train as your mode of transportation, aligning with our commitment to sustainable travel options. The cost of a train ticket from Schiphol Airport to Utrecht Centraal is approximately €10, and it swiftly transports you to the heart of our city within half an hour. Renting a car is not advisable due to the high parking costs within the city.

For European Travelers: Travelers from across Europe can take advantage of the extensive international railway and ferry network, seamlessly connecting Utrecht to major cities such as Brussels, Paris, Berlin, and London. International train services include Thalys, TGV, City Night Line, Intercity Antwerp/Brussels, ICE International, and Eurostar. To encourage train travel to Utrecht, Utrecht University has designed a convenient train zone map, highlighting accessible European destinations by train. We are committed to promoting sustainable travel options, and you can delve deeper into the reasons why train travel makes a significant difference on this page. If train travel is not feasible for you, Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam) and Eindhoven Airport (Eindhoven) are alternative options for your journey.

City Accessibility

Utrecht boasts a major central train station, and both conference venues, La Vie Utrecht and Utrecht Neude Library, are easily reachable within 5-10 minutes from the train station.

We offer convenient parking with direct access to the La Vie parking garage (Q-Park) at Rozenstraat 1, level 14. Enjoy discounted rates, including €15.00 for 5 hours, €25.00 for 9 hours, and €30.00 for 24 hours. Please arrange the discount with the reception of La Vie.

Hotel Recommendations

Utrecht has a wide range of hotels, self-catering accommodations, and homestays.

However, in this link, you can discover exclusive offers for our conference. Hotel Service Utrecht has secured set (non-fluctuating) rates with flexible cancellation policies, ensuring full refunds within the cancellation period.