Becoming Visible: Comparing Inclusive and Special Education Policies, Practices and Research

Becoming visible: comparing inclusive and special education policies, practices and research in Brazil and the UK

Call for participants to workshop on: inclusive and special education policies, practices and research in Brazil and the UK

Under the Researcher Links scheme offered within the Newton Fund, the British Council and FAPESP will be holding a workshop on the above theme in São Carlos, Brazil on 10th – 12th March 2015. The workshop is being coordinated by Professor Richard Rose, University of Northampton, UK, and Professor EnicéiaGonçalves Mendes, Federal University of São Carlos, Brazil, and will have contributions from other leading researchers including Professor Liz Todd, University of Newcastle, Dr Cristina Devecchi, University of Northampton, Professor Maria Amélia Almeida, University of São Carlos and Professor FabianaCia, São Carlos. We are now inviting Early Career Researchers from the UK or the State of São Paulo, Brazil,to apply to attend this workshop. All travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by the Researcher Links programme. The application form, with more details on the initiative, is attached and should be sent to before the deadline of November 24th 2014.

Applicants must have completed doctoral level studies within the past ten years and be working on research in the area of special and inclusive education. The language of the workshop will be English and all participants will be expected to present papers both orally and written in this language.

Participants will be asked to present a paper based upon their research in relation to one of the five conference themes and should indicate on the application form which theme relates most closely to their research. Applicants may wish to identify more than one theme to which their research can be directly related as there will be a limited number of sessions for presentations under each theme.

The five conference session themes are as follows:-

1. Identification and assessment of disability and special educational needs: addressing the tension between invisibility and over-identification.
2. Including children in schools: evidence based practice.
3. Evidence from the classroom: teachers creating effective inclusive environments.
4. Investigating interdisciplinary approaches to inclusion: working with professionals outside schools.
5. Making the agenda more visible: research influencing policy change.

Potential applicants are welcome to contact Professor Richard Rose (UK) or Professor EnicéiaGonçalves Mendes (Brazil) for further information.

How to apply to participate:

The full application accompanied by a CV must be completed and submitted on the attached form by November 24th 2014 to: (the workshop administrator)

Eligibility Criteria:

- Applications must be submitted using the Researcher Links application form

- Application must be submitted before the above deadline

- Participants must be early career researchers: Early Career Researchers are defined as holding a PhD for less than 10 years on the starting date of the workshop.

-Applicants must have English proficiency that enables them to present a paper and participate in discussions throughout the workshop

Quality Assessment:

Proposals submitted will be assessed according to:

- Experience and relevance of the applicant’s research area to the workshop

- Motivation and contribution to the aims of the workshop

- Quality of the written proposal

- Description of the long term impact expected through the participation in the workshop

- Ability to disseminate workshop’s outcomes

Selection Procedure:

All applicants will be scrutinised by the workshop convenors from both the UK and Brazil.

Proposals submitted will be assessed in relation to their relevance to the workshop theme, contribution to knowledge and understanding and potential for further development in partnership with colleagues attending the workshop.

The CVs of each potential participant will be reviewed as part of the selection process

Notification of results:

Applicants will be notified by email 2 months prior to the workshop.

Equal Opportunities:

The British Council is committed to equal opportunities and diversity in all its activities and this includes the avoidance of any bias in the assessment of applications due to gender, disability, racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or religious belief. Participants’ selection undertaken by workshop organisers must not contravene this policy. Extra support to enable participation of early career researchers with special needs will be given.