January 2012

More than 100 scholars and researchers from around the world presented papers in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in December 2011 at the Second Focal Meeting of the World Education Research Association (WERA). This meeting was an integral part of the Taiwan Education Research Association (TERA) International Conference on Education (TICE), which was held on the campus of National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung on December 16–18. All in all, over 800 scholars gathered in Taiwan for the TICE/WERA meetings.

WERA focal meetings are planned as an integral part of the meeting of a national, regional, or international specialty association. The purpose of the focal meetings is to expand consideration of research issues that are worldwide in reach and significance and enhance international communication and collaboration.

The 2011 WERA Focal Meeting consisted of 28 paper sessions, a keynote address by WERA President Eva Baker, and two invited presentations. The open call for submissions yielded almost 200 abstracts. Based on a peer-review, WERA accepted about 120 of the submissions. The final program (http://www.weraonline.org/pdfs/WERAFocalMtgProgram12-14-11FINAL.pdf) reflected a wide range of theoretical perspectives, research interests, and topics. The presenters came from more than 20 countries.

WERA also held a Council meeting immediately prior to the TICE Conference, on December 15. At the Council meeting, plans for the Third WERA Focal Meeting were discussed. The third meeting will be held on December 2–6, 2012, in Sydney, Australia, in collaboration with the Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE), as part of the joint conference of the AARE and the Asia-Pacific Educational Research Association (APERA).

For further information on WERA, see the WERA web site at http://www.weraonline.org/. Past AERA President Eva Baker serves as WERA president. AERA Past President Carol Lee is the AERA representative to WERA, and AERA Executive Director Felice Levine is WERA secretary general.