ESA Mid-Term Sociology of Education Conference

Conference Theme: Education and Social Cohesion

The challenge for education to prepare young people for life in an increasingly diverse society is as pertinent as ever. European societies have become steadily more heterogeneous due to immigration, the incorporation of refugees and the fragmentation of traditional social classes into a plethora of social groups differing in education levels and lifestyles. Countries that have suffered disproportionately from the recent economic crisis have become more polarized. The education system at all levels, primary, secondary and tertiary, is expected to socialize youngsters of all these different groups into the norms and values of society in order to retain social cohesion. This does not only concern integrating children of migrant origin but also enabling native majority children to engage with and manage cultural difference. However, over the last ten years or so, attention has increasingly focused on integration at the expense of “learning to live together”, as governments have been quick to enlist schools in their strategies to counter alienation and radicalisation among segments of the migrant population.

This edition of the Sociology of Education mid-term conference aims to critically interrogate this recent trend and to explore all other issues related to the socialization function of education. We welcome all contributions that broadly address this theme whatever the phase of education focused on (from early childhood to adult). The following list includes research questions that we would typically expect contributions to explore:

• How compatible are the recent civic integration policies with the requirement for schools to maintain ideological neutrality?
• Are such policies effective in preventing radicalization, fostering support for key democratic values and promoting more inclusive identities?
• At primary, secondary and tertiary levels, which educational practices are capable of enhancing tolerance towards people of a different racial, ethnic, religious or language background?
• Do refugee children benefit more from integration in mainstream classes or from separate tailor-made education?
• How does teacher education in Europe prepare students for work in diverse schools?
• Can cooperation between families, local communities and schools add to social cohesion?
• Can educational practices be identified that only deepen divisions and intergroup hostility?
• How do societies and institutions in Europe differ in the ways in which they incorporate minorities who hold multi-layered identities?
• How do national school curricula address migration-related diversity issues?
• How is religion integrated in schools and education systems across Europe?
• What are the main educational challenges arising from growing cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity in European societies?
• How do schools and societies at large balance migration-related diversity and social cohesion (in policies, practices)?

Abstracts max. 250 words should be sent by 14th of February to: and should include author name(s), affiliation and email address.

The abstract should clearly outline the theme of the paper and the research question as well as the theoretical perspective and research design that has been used to pursue the research question. It should also include a brief discussion of the main results. We will evaluate abstracts based on these criteria. Incomplete abstracts may be disqualified as there will not be enough information to make a decision. More information: Germ Janmaat,

Important dates

Abstract submission: 14th of February 2018
Author notification: 1st of April 2018
Registration: 1st of July 2018
Programme notification: 31th of July 2018

Conference registration fee:

ESA-members €60
Non-ESA members €75
Ph.D students ESA-members €50
Ph.D students non-ESA members €65

Price includes conference material, lunch and coffee breaks.

**Conference waiver for the first 5 (five) Ph.D candidates with limited or no institutional support who will apply for before 1^st of May, on basis of first come first served (separate call will follow)**

Local Organising Committee

Germ Janmaat (coordinator), UCL Institute of Education,
Alison Fixsen, University of Westminster,
Jocelyn Morales Verdejo, UCL Institute of Education,