AERA leaders, including President Barbara Schneider, Past President Arnetha Ball, and Executive Director Felice Levine, participated last month in the 2013 Focal Meeting of the World Education Research Association (WERA). The Focal Meeting, an annual WERA event, was held in conjunction with the XII National Congress for Education Research of the Consejo Mexicano de Investigación Educativa (COMIE) (Mexican Society for Educational Research). The meeting was held November 19–22 in Guanajuato, Mexico.
The 2013 Focal Meeting consisted of 31 paper and symposia sessions addressed to a wide range of research issues of international scope and significance. Approximately 120 scholars took part. The purpose of the focal meetings is to expand consideration of research that is worldwide in reach and to enhance international communication and collaboration. Each year the meeting is held as an integral part of the major conference of a WERA member association.
The COMIE/WERA international conference included the first WERA Presidential address. WERA President Yin Cheong Cheng delivered the address on the topic of a paradigm shift in education before a packed house of well over a thousand attendees. Also offered were nine symposia, including a special invitational symposium at which President Schneider spoke on strengthening the infrastructure of education research. At another special invitational symposium, Educational Researcher Editor Carolyn Herrington urged the audience to refocus the education research agenda in light of practice and policy changes.