Our team is committed to developing in-depth research on inclusion and equity in education both at local and international levels. Rather than simply translating solutions and practices generated in schooling systems across various countries, we seek a deeper understanding of the global circulation and transformation of inclusive values, policies, theories and practices.

German and internationally recruited academics together address a broad range of expertise and interests in education sciences, psychology, public policy, ethnography, sociology of education, or disability studies. They take part on a regular basis to international scholar networks on inclusive education; and organize scientific events, such as conferences, workshops, seminars, or lectures series.

Current and past partnerships particularly focus on research-oriented collaborations, knowledge production and sharing, and enhanced teaching and learning practice.

Visiting Scholars

Prof. Chris Forlin	University of Notre Dame Australia
Dr. Kristine Black Hawkins	University of Cambridge
Prof. Dr. Patricia Jennings	University of Virginia
Prof. Dr. Srikala Naraian	Teachers College, Columbia University
Prof. Dr. Justin Powell	University of Luxembour

International Symposium & Seminar

'Reading Inclusive Education Divergently: Between Official Discourses and Local Complexities'

Thursday, 5 December 2019 and Friday, 6 December 2019
Bielefeld University 

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​On December 5 and 6 the international symposium and seminar ‘Reading Inclusive Education Divergently: Between Official Discourses and Local Complexities’ took place at Bielefeld. It was designed by Bettina Amrhein from the Educational Department of Bielefeld University and Srikala Naraian from Teachers College, Columbia University to address the question of long-term change in regional practices, in light of developments in the field of inclusive education around the world. It invited participants from the so-called “Global North” and “Global South” to come together and achieve a deeper understanding of the global circulation and transformation of the commitments, policies, theories and practices that collectively constitute the field of inclusive education currently.

Academics from 14 institutions in 10 countries participated in our two-day-program. After an introduction by Srikala Naraian and Bettina Amrhein, the symposium was kicked off by a lecture and interactive session by Dan Goodley, who joined via the internet from the UK and talked aboutBeing human in inhuman times. In the afternoon there were two panels, panel one dealing with the topicDefining Inclusion in the Global Context: Continuing Challenges and Contradictions, moderated by Srikala Naraian and featuring talks by Evariste Karangwa, Bettina Amrhein and Anita Ghai. Panel two was under the topicMethodological risk-taking: New directions for researching Inclusion and featured, moderated by Bettina Amrhein, talks by Srikala Naraian, Andreas Köpfer, Julia Biermann and Michelle Proyer. The day was concluded with dinner in Bielefeld University’s restaurant Nordlicht.

The second day started with a presentation and interactive session by Roger Slee, who joined remotely from Australia via the internet and talked about the general state of inclusive education in an international context. Afterwards, several participants of the symposium and seminar gave responses to the question of the day,What have you learned from your own research in inclusive education that provokes new questions for a transnational approach to inclusion that can be sustained across diverse sociocultural contexts?. In the afternoon, there was a working session on several current questions in inclusive education, after which the symposium was concluded with an outlook towards the future.

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​Following on the symposium, the establishment of a Research Network on Transnational Inclusive Education is now being set up with the aim that the participants will continue to work together to foster new relationships and contribute to the transformation of the discourse around inclusive education is pursued.

Further Information

Persons

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Head Prof. Dr. Bettina Amrhein	Researcher/Lecturer Dr. Benjamin Badstieber

Publications

Naraian, S. & Amrhein, B.(2020). Learning to read ‘inclusion’ divergently: enacting a transnational approach to inclusive education. International Journal of Inclusive Education. DOI: 10.1080/13603116.2020.1807624.https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2020.1807624

Supported by

Supported by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation for the Advancement of Science

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