This public Summit is the second of three such events, the first being held in Copenhagen on May 15th, and the final will be in Australia later this year. These events are a call for action. With the increasing call for cost-effective school designs that do not disadvantage student learning, the need has never been greater for evidence that clearly shows what works best, for whom, and under what circumstances. The Summit is aimed at academics, school leaders, architects and designers, and infrastructure providers. It will produce a tangible advancement in our collective attempts to use quality research to improve learning environments for all students.
Short Keynotes and presentations by leading local research groups will focus on evidence – what we know and what we need to know. This will be followed by a high-level discussion, amongst the Summit's skilled participants, about feasible ways to address identified gaps.
It will conclude with an agenda for immediate implementation of these strategies.
The event will be underpinned by learning from the Innovative Learning Environments and Student Experience project (ILESE). More than a year was spent on workshops with >250 learning environment leaders from education, academia and industries, representing in 19 countries. This identified what research practitioners know of and use. It identified gaps and established a list of priorities for the next decade of research and action. It designed a research strategy capable of gathering the required evidence. That strategy was translated to six languages and piloted in 30 sites in 21 schools across 10 countries (n=946). To date it has produced four research reports, a validated data collection tool, and an international network of academics, educators and industry organisations to move the pilot to a full project late in 2025.
ILESE acts as one example of collaboration by those concerned with seeking better schools, to add an evidence-based foundation to our work. Come, discuss, and help conceptualise effective use of quality research that leads directly to benefits our students.
Morning tea, lunch, and evening nibbles and light refreshments will be provided at the event.
