Call for Papers – International Froebel Conference 2023
The 2023 conference will focus on the Froebelian principles and how they relate to childhood today, under the following
themes:
• The central Importance of play
• Engaging with nature –sustainability and educational practice
• Creativity & the power of symbols – “ideas given visible form”
• Relationships matter – working with children and their families
• Developing knowledgeable, nurturing, reflective educators
• Child agency – autonomous learners
• The value of childhood in its own right
• The power of observation & reflection
• Embracing unity within diversity
• Froebel’s Gifts & Occupations in today’s childhood
Confirmed Keynotes include:
Professor Nóirín Hayes :Emeritus Professor in the Centre for Social and Educational Research (CSER) at Technological
University (TU) Dublin & Visiting Professor in the School of Education at Trinity College Dublin. In January 2015, she
organised a symposium to encourage research in early childhood education in Ireland, which led to the establishment
the Researching Early Childhood Education Collaborative (RECEC).
Mathias Urban, PhD, is Desmond Chair of Early Childhood Education, and Director of the Early Childhood Research
Centre (ECRC) at Dublin City University. He is Honorary Professor at the University of Roehampton, London, UK,
Professor II at the University of Stavanger, Norway, Visiting Professor at the Nacional University of Colombia and at
Universidad de La Sabana, Colombia, at Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Affiliate Professor
and Fellow at EDPolicyFORWARD: The Center for Educational Policy at George Mason University, VA, USA.
Dr Deirdre McGillicuddy is Assistant Professor in Education in UCD School of Education and Director of the
newly established BEd in Education, Gaeilge and Modern Languages. She has responsibility for teaching across
a range of modules in the school relating to research methods and Curriculum and Assessment. She has also
taught Pedagogy, Early Childhood Education Policy and Practice, Development and Intercultural Education,
Sociology of Childhood and Children’s Rights and Citizenship.
For the 2023 conference, the IFS invites proposals for 20–minute presentations, as well as for one–hour workshops,
roundtables or posters to be offered.
Proposals should include:
(1) The presenters’ names, corresponding author’s email address and institutional affiliation (if any)
(2) Category of proposed offering:
● presentation (20 minutes, plus 10 minutes Q&A),
● pre–formed panel (three 20–minute presentations on a collective theme),
● workshop (60 minutes)
● roundtable (60 minutes)
● poster
● or other (please specify)
(3) A 250–word description of the proposed topic plus list of references if/as appropriate. Be sure to indicate how
your proposal relates to the conference theme. (For pre–formed panels, include a description of all three papers of
up to 750 words in total length.)
(4) A list of three keywords relevant to the proposal.
(5) A description of any specific technology, space or furniture requirements.
Proposals should be submitted as a Word document to: froebelconference@gmail.com. Please use the subject line:
“IFS 2023 Proposal Submission”
Timeline:
Proposal Submission Deadline – January 31, 2023
Notification of Acceptance/Rejection Date – March 01, 2023
Early Bird Registration Deadline – April 01, 2023
General Registration Deadline – May 01, 2023
Early Bird registration fee: €295
Standard registration fee: €335
Further information will be available on …
https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/froebel–department–primary–and–early–childhood–education