3 minute read
The intersection of research and practice, Mary Hayden and Kate Kuhn
The intersection of research and practice
Mary Hayden and Kate Kuhn report on the second IB Educator Certificate conference
Question: How do you persuade more than 100 researchers and educators from universities around the world, all with interests in the International Baccalaureate, to come together for 3 days to discuss the relationship between research and practice in the context of the increasingly popular and wellregarded IB programmes? Answer: invite them to participate in a conference organised jointly by the IB and a university that offers IB Educator Certificates, provide a great location, stimulating presentations, opportunity for discussion and terrific company – and see what emerges.
This is what happened for the first time in Kent State University, Ohio in 2016, when the inaugural IB university conference organised to stimulate debate and crossuniversity collaboration was a huge success – and then happened for the second time between 18 and 20 June 2018 at the University of Bath, UK. Following recent 50 th anniversary celebrations of the University of Bath, with its long history of involvement with and commitment to the IB, its programmes and its students, hosting the conference in this the IB’s 50 th anniversary year was particularly timely.
Organised by a conference team made up of representatives of the IB (Kate Kuhn, Keisha Malone and Stanley Burgoyne) and University of Bath (Jeff Thompson, Katerina Ray and Mary Hayden), the conference attracted participants from 24 different countries – with the prize for the largest number of universities represented going (amazingly, given the geography and distances involved) to Australia. Staying in accommodation either on campus or in the city of Bath just down the hill, participants engaged in a three day packed programme of activities. Following formal welcomes from University of Bath Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching Professor Peter Lambert, Head of Department of Education Professor Mary Hayden, and IB Chief Officer of Learning and Teaching Dr Rebecca Hughes, keynote speakers included Dr Bradley Shrimpton (IB Head of Research), Dr Robert Harrison (IB Head of Middle Years Programme Development), Professor Catherine Montgomery (University of Bath Professor of International Higher Education) and Dr Conrad Hughes (Campus and Secondary Principal at the International School of Geneva La Grande Boissière campus).
Chaired overall by Professor Jeff Thompson, the conference’s stimulating combination of 35 research presentations, 18 round table presentations and 4 poster sessions formed the basis for several days of perspectivesharing on research and its intersection with the development of professional practice. One of the chief characteristics of the The IB and University of Bath conference team conference was the strong interaction between presenters (of research sessions, round table events and poster displays) and those attending the sessions, which guaranteed challenging ideas, good-humoured disagreement and increased understanding of differing views and experiences from around the world.
Student ambassadors of the University of Bath’s MA International Education and Globalisation programme helped participants to find their way around, while at the same time deepening and broadening their own understanding of international education – and no doubt informing their ongoing dissertation work! Following a conference dinner on campus after the Monday evening welcome reception, dinner on Tuesday was provided in 10 Bath city centre restaurants offering a range of different cuisines and providing the opportunity for more informal discussion (an idea borrowed from the previous conference organisers – thanks Kent State!). The conference finished in Bath city centre with Wednesday evening’s reception and dinner in the splendour of the 18 th century Holburne Museum.
All together it was a great few days which left behind not only deeper understanding of the thorny issues with which we are all engaging on an ongoing basis, but also happy memories of an enjoyable time spent in excellent company. We can’t wait to do it again!
