On October 14-15, 2024, the University of Bucharest, in collaboration with CIVIS – the European Civic University Alliance, CIVICA – the European University of Social Sciences, and King’s College London, will organize the conference on “Reflexivity in Higher Education: Liberation or Entrapment?”.
This conference is organised as part of the celebrations marking University of Bucharest’s 160 years anniversary and 330 years of higher education in Romania. More information on the anniversary events can be found here.
The conference is coordinated by prof. Romiță Iucu, PhD, president of the Orientation and Strategic Analysis Council of the University of Bucharest, prof. Mihai Păunescu, PhD, teaching staff at the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration Bucharest, and prof. Dr. Liviu Matei, PhD, teaching staff at King’s College London.
A significant highlight of the conference will be a special session dedicated to honouring the memory of the late professor Lazăr Vlăsceanu. Educated in the UK, Lazăr Vlăsceanu was a distinguished sociologist of education, a transformative leader at the University of Bucharest, and a higher education trailblazer in Europe. His contributions to the field of higher education studies, including the topic of reflexivity, were remarkable. His work continues to inspire scholars and educators worldwide.
This conference will serve as a platform for scholars, academics, researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and students to explore and debate the role of reflexivity in higher education. Reflexivity in the academe, the practice of self-examination and self-centred critical reflection regarding the organisation, governance, and activities of the university (Including teaching and learning), is a crucial, albeit difficult to grasp, component of the higher education intellectual and policy milieu. This conference aims to investigate whether reflexivity acts as a vehicle for liberation, fostering innovation and individual and institutional advancements, or as a potential trap that complicates decision-making processes, policy implementation, or action altogether. More details about the event here.
Interested participants can register through this online form. The registration deadline is 15 September 2024.
The authors of the collective volume “Reflexivity in Higher Education: Liberation or Entrapment? Scholarship, Policy, and Practice. A Festschrift in Memory of Lazăr Vlăsceanu” are invited to present their papers during the conference. This will be an excellent opportunity to share insights and engage in meaningful discussions with fellow scholars, academics, researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and students.
The event will take place at the University of Bucharest, with participation also available in hybrid format, aiming to accommodate participants who may be unable to attend in person, ensuring broader accessibility and engagement. However, face-to-face participation is encouraged to facilitate more direct interaction and networking opportunities.
For any enquiries, please contact the conference organising committee at: alexandru-mihai.cartis@unibuc.ro.