CRC 20th Anniversary Conference: Sharing research methods and processes for empowering children and young people

Date: Wednesday 23rd October 2024

Location: The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA.

To help us celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Children’s Research Centre at The Open University we are organising a conference to consider the development and direction of participatory research with, about and led by children and young people. Although the Children’s Research Centre was one of the first centres in the UK to promote and support research by children and young people, we are now part of a well-established network of like-minded advocates.

This community-centred event on Wednesday 23rd October 2024 is intended to provide an opportunity for colleagues to reflect on what has been achieved and consider the challenges ahead. This is a hybrid conference with the presenters and in-person delegates attending the OU campus in Milton Keynes, and online delegates joining us via Microsoft Teams. It is our hope that the presentations and subsequent discussions will offer a source of renewal for the centre and the wider research community.

Programme

The following draft programme includes the schedule and abstracts for our two keynotes, 24 presentations (in three parallel strands) and posters which attendees can view throughout the day and discuss during lunch.

Programme with schedule and abstracts

Keynotes

Children’s involvement in education research: the influence of ethical considerations on realising children’s rights.

Professor Carol Robinson, University of Strathclyde

Carol is a Professor of Children’s Rights within the Institute of Education at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, UK. A major focus of Carol’s work has been around developing insights into issues relating to children’s Human Rights Education.

Children as Researchers: Making it Real.

Professor Nigel Patrick Thomas, University of Central Lancashire

Patrick is Professor Emeritus of Childhood and Youth and founder of The Centre for Children and Young People’s Participation. His research interests are in child welfare, children’s rights, children and young people’s participation, and theories of childhood and intergenerational relations.