This year’s History of Education Conference is inspired by the work of Professor Joyce Goodman (MBE) who made important contributions to scholarship regarding gender, networks and leadership in educational and historical settings.

Gender is a ubiquitous theme that can be identified in most educational encounters. Similarly, networks and leadership operate at the micro and macro levels – from informal groups to educational systems and transnational encounters. Leadership may operate formally through positions established by appointment or election as well as informally through practical example or in intellectual terms.

We invite contributions that speak to the conference themes of gender, networks and leadership:

• Gender – Life histories, multiple femininities, masculinities and gender non-conformity in the history of education

• Networks – Higher Education, transnationalism, cooperation, activism, international organisations for education, agency and citizenship  

• Leadership in the history of education – Governance, policy and management, Peace and peace building

This is an indicative list and we are keen to receive papers which may connect to these overall themes and also challenge them.

We welcome papers that focus on any region(s) and countries of the world, and on education and learning broadly conceived. We are keen to understand education in its widest sense not only on institutions of learning but also educational experiences across the life course, in workplaces, civil society and families.

Submission deadline: Thursday 31st of July 2025

How to submit: Submit your proposed paper title and abstract of no more than 200 words to Dr Eleanor Simpson and Dr Catherine Holloway at heswinchester2025@outlook.com

Please note papers should be no longer than fifteen minutes in duration.