International Footprint of Education Research Unpacked at SAERA Conference

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Dr Felice Levine of the World Education Research Association (WERA) delivered a keynote address at a plenary session at the 2^nd South African Education Research Association (SAERA) Conference in Durban. The Conference is partnered with UKZN’s School of Education.

Levine’s topic was: “The International Footprint of Education Research - A 21^st Century Work in Progress”, which she managed to tie in with the Conference’s theme of:  “Researching Education: Future Directions”.

Her paper focused on an indicative analysis of education research in the United States and worldwide, and concluded that the education research field was dynamic with data and findings being relevant in the 21^st century.

Levine gave an overview of the field of education research, the future of the education field and the implications of education research, pointing out that for the health and vitality of the education field, increasing doctoral degree production needed to be investigated.

‘There is a challenge in getting access to information about education research and this has to change,’ said Levine. ‘We need to advocate for better data and that’s where WERA comes in to leverage research. Our field isn’t classified as a scientific field and we need to stress the value of our field to stakeholders nationally and internationally.

‘Policies need to be produced ethically; we need to train the next generation of researchers and to create an international dialogue to emphasise the burning issues affecting our field. But above all, we need to display openness and innovation in the education field,’ added Levine.

* Dr Felice J Levine is Executive Director of the American Educational Research Association and the Secretary General of the World Education Research Association (WERA). Her work focuses on research and science policy issues, research ethics, data access and sharing, the scientific and academic workforce, and Higher Education.

Levine is currently collaborating on an NSF-supported assessment of education research doctorate programmes in universities in the United States, and is Principal Investigator of the AERA Grants Program and member of its Governing Board.

She is also Associate Editor of the Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, serves on the Executive Committee of the Consortium of Social Science Associations, is Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics, and is an elected member of the International Statistical Institute.

Melissa Mungroo