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Call for Papers: OCIES 2025 Annual Conference

“Education, Knowledge and Power in the Asia-Pacific“

University of Canterbury / Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
 23–26 November 2025


 Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday, 1 August 2025

The Oceania Comparative and International Education Society (OCIES) warmly invites scholars, educators, practitioners, and community thinkers and leaders to join us in Ōtautahi Christchurch for our 53rd Annual Conference. 

With this year’s theme “Education, Knowledge and Power in the Asia-Pacific” we invite critical reflection and research on the shifting dynamics of education and power in a region marked by cultural richness, geopolitical complexity, and urgent calls for justice, sustainability, and transformation.

As we gather on the lands of Ngāi Tuahuriri, we honour indigenous knowledge systems and relational ways of being that challenge dominant paradigms of education and research. We invite contributions that engage with the following subthemes.

 Conference Subthemes

  1. Technology, AI, Equity, and Educational Futures
    How are emerging technologies reshaping education in the Asia-Pacific? What are the implications for equity, access, and culturally appropriate innovation?
  2. Liberating Pedagogies: Knowledge, Power and Transformative Teaching
    How can curriculum and pedagogy challenge systemic inequities and foster inclusive, decolonising, and anti-racist educational practices?
  3. Education for Sustainability, Climate Justice, and Cultural Resilience
    How can education respond to environmental crises while sustaining cultural knowledge and intergenerational resilience?
  4. Decolonising Education and Centering Indigenous Knowledges
    What does it mean to centre Indigenous epistemologies in education? How can we transform institutions to support sovereignty, language revitalisation, and cultural resurgence?
  5. Geopolitics, Critical Thought, and South–South Educational Co-operation
    How are shifting global power relations influencing education and knowledge production? What role can South–South collaboration play in disrupting colonial hierarchies?

More information for Conference Subthemes is here

Presentation Formats

We welcome a range of presentation styles that reflect the diverse ways of knowing and sharing knowledge across Oceania:

  • Roundtables: Short individual papers (7–10 mins) grouped for collective discussion.
  • Conversation Circles: Dialogic sessions using formats such as talanoa, tok stori, or yarning.
  • Symposiums: Thematically linked presentations with audience engagement.
  • Practice Circles: Interactive, arts-based, or skills-focused workshops.

Abstracts

Abstracts (300–400 words) should indicate the format and subtheme(s) addressed. Submit your abstract by Friday 1 August 2025 via our online portal [link to be inserted] 

Inquiries

For inquiries and further information about OCIES and this conference,