Thursday 12 June 2025
Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge (in person, with option of joining online)
For 10 years, the University of Cambridge’s REAL Centre has been turning a spotlight on education as a force for social transformation and exploring the advancement of equity and social justice, in and through education, around the world. It does so through research, trans-national partnerships and public engagement, informing both policy and practice, with a particular focus on the global South. This one-day conference will bring together many REAL Centre partners to celebrate and reflect on a decade of evidence and impact; but it will also ask the pressing question: What comes next?
The anniversary is taking place at a critical juncture for anyone with an interest in education as a human right. It is also 10 years since the adoption of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. With just five years remaining, many of the ambitious targets associated with the education goal – ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and the promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all – are unlikely to be met.
With this in mind, participants will discuss how research-based evidence has informed policy and practice to tackle injustice in and through education from the early years onwards, as well as how teachers can be supported to inspire learners at different stages. The conference will also reflect on evidence of education’s role in tackling injustices relating to crises of climate and conflict, gender and disability.
This will be a unique opportunity to share lessons and shape narratives in education, taking in the many, intersecting areas across which the REAL Centre’s members and partners have worked. The event will discuss future directions, both for our own research and practice, and the field of education and international development more broadly. Together, participants will look past the looming horizon of 2030 and ask challenging questions about how to prepare for what lies beyond.
See the REAL Centre website for more details of speakers and agenda.