EARLI SIG 18 2024

From August 23 to 25, 2024, the University of Cyprus proudly hosted the 9th Biannual Conference of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI) SIG 18, focused on Educational Effectiveness and Improvement in Nicosia. The conference, titled “Promoting Educational Quality: The Contribution of Educational Effectiveness and Improvement Research,” attracted over 100 researchers from 18 countries, all dedicated to advancing the quality of education.

Organized by the University of Cyprus, the conference was chaired by Associate Professor Charalambos Y. Charalambous, who also led the academic and scientific committees. Held at the historic old campus of the University of Cyprus, the event kicked off with a warmly received opening session, featuring addresses from the University’s Dean, Professor Tasos Christofides, Professor Constantinos Korfiatis, and Associate Professor Charalambos Y. Charalambous. The session was further enriched by a captivating piano performance from the talented teenager, Anna Avraamidou, whose piano prowess mesmerized the audience.

The conference featured three prestigious keynote speakers who shared their expertise in the field:

1. Drew Gitomer – “The Productive Use of Disagreement in Observational Ratings”
2. Andrea Wullschleger – “Empowerment through Collaboration? Analyzing Collaborative School Improvement Processes at Different Levels of the Education System Based on a Social Network Approach”
3. Jaap Scheerens – “Educational Effectiveness as a Scientific Research Discipline”

These keynotes set the tone for a vibrant exchange of ideas on critical topics such as developing and testing frameworks, models, and theories of high-quality teaching and schooling, finding ways to measure teaching quality from different perspectives, exploring issues of collaboration and networking, and linking educational effectiveness with practical improvements in teaching and schooling through targeted interventions.

Beyond the academic program, participants enjoyed numerous networking opportunities, including a welcome cocktail in the venue courtyard accompanied by a live band, a guided tour of the Archaeological Museum of Cyprus, and a conference dinner at a traditional local tavern, all organized with the support of EasyConferences. The company ensured a seamless experience for all attendees, managing online registration, abstract submission system, local arrangements, and secretariat support.

The conference was generously sponsored by Love Cyprus, the Cyprus Convention Bureau, Music Lab “Ioanna Pettemeridou”, and the Cyprus Department of Antiquities.

Photos from the conference can be viewed via the link below. Attendees are also encouraged to share their own memories by sending photos to yi@easyconferences.eu.