Authentic Partnerships in ECE Research Symposium
Call for Papers
Ngā mihi nui ki ā tātou hoamahi - Greetings!
We invite you to submit an abstract for the Authentic Partnerships in ECE Research Symposium on Friday, 10 October 2025:
Growing together - drawing from research to inform our future and strengthening ECE through inclusivity.
In a sector where relationships and identity are at the heart of what we do, we draw on our research and practice to guide the future of Early Childhood Education. Our work invites ongoing reflection and commitment to meaningful change. Change and its impact - in our environment, in our thinking, in our delivery.
Current themes include:
- Leadership and mentoring – fostering success through ako, tuakana–teina, and culturally responsive practice.
- Te reo Māori as a living, everyday language in ECE settings – normalising and nurturing reo Māori in practice.
- Te Whāriki as a lens for building inclusive and collaborative teams – strengthening team culture through shared values and principles.
- Sustaining relationships and practices that honour whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, Pono and whakamana in changing contexts.
Presentation Options and Guidelines
Presentation: A 20 minute presentation followed by 5 minutes of questions and discussion. We encourage you to share the story of your research journey, highlighting key learnings, insights, or strategies that can be applied beyond your specific context. Whether you focus on a particular aspect of your project or provide an overview of a completed study, please consider how your work might inform and inspire others in their practice or research. Presenting with research partners or collaborators is warmly welcomed.
Submissions
Please submit a 250-word abstract and bio by Friday, 18 July for any of the options above that reflect the symposium theme and criteria. Decisions on abstracts will be returned as they are submitted, so feel free to submit early! Acceptance will be advised by Monday, 28 July.
Your abstract will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Relevance to the symposium theme
- What can you recommend to other education and service providers, facilities and policymakers based on your research findings?
If you have any questions about the submission process, please contact [email protected].