Directions, Priorities, and Leadership in Worldwide Education Research From the Vantage of WERA Presidents

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

This symposium brings together past and current presidents of the World Education Research Association (WERA) to reflect on global directions, priorities, and leadership in education research. Marking a pivotal moment at the 2025 quarter-century mark, this session situates WERA’s mission within the broader global ecosystem of education research—across continents, cultures, and policy contexts.
The panel features leaders in education research from North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, offering cross-national insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of education research. Their reflections address WERA’s role in advancing scholarly collaboration, building sustainable research capacity, and responding to shifting global dynamics that affect learners, educators, and systems worldwide.
In alignment with the 2025 AERA Presidential Program theme, this session will explore how worldwide research leadership can promote inclusive, forward-looking, and transformative educational futures.

Sub Unit

• World Education Research Association

Chair

• Rocio Garcia-Carrion, University of Deusto

Participants

• Eva L. Baker, University of California - Los Angeles

• Felice J. Levine, American Educational Research Association

• Ingrid Gogolin, Universität Hamburg

• Bee Leng Chua, National Institute of Education - Nanyang Technological University

• Liesel Ebersohn, University of Pretoria

• Joe O'Hara, Dublin City University