Mission Statement

The past year has presented us with challenges amid changing circumstances. From the heartbreaking exposure of thousands of unmarked graves of Indigenous children across our nation, to ongoing discussions of race, racism, and equality that have left many grappling with their own position and complicity, to the myriad of challenges facing schools and teachers. Through it all, communities have continued to navigate the pandemic, with its unique obstacles for personal, professional, and academic life. In spite of it all, the community within McGill’s faculty of education has remained intent on creating increasingly inclusive environments, and searching for innovative ways to support diverse populations. This year’s EGSS conference welcomes presentations and discussions on the resilience, perseverance and strength of individuals and communities in the face of adversity, challenge, and change. The theme of the 20th annual EGSS Conference is: Challenge, Change & Resilience, a theme that we believe will resonate widely across our faculty of education, spanning topics related to pedagogy and curriculum, policy, philosophy, educational psychology, physical education, human health, and beyond. 

 

The general aim of the EGSS Conference is to foster a supportive and collaborative space for students and faculty to engage in dialogue, discussion, knowledge sharing from a wide range of worldviews. Our goals are: (1) To promote knowledge and research across a wide range of educational perspectives, including social, cognitive, political, philosophical, psychological, and physical health. (2) To create opportunities for graduate students to share their ideas, and to hone their academic skills. (3) To support the well-being of students in the faculty of education by fostering collaboration among social, academic, and professional networks.

 

To achieve these goals, graduate students will have opportunities to present their research and ideas in a variety of formats, and to receive feedback from the faculty of education community. The conference will create informal and social spaces for our community to engage in discussions spanning a wide range of perspectives, contexts, and topics. Invited keynote speakers and panelists will also inspire and provoke us by sharing their experiences facing changes and challenges in the field of education. Additionally, workshops targeting will be offered by EGSS surrounding before and after the conference to help students with academic and presentation skills. 

 

Furthermore, the EGSS conference will host social events and spaces where graduate students and faculty will have opportunities to discuss the conference theme in informal settings, and where they can share experiences of triumphs and trials over the last year. We aim to create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming event where all students feel comfortable participating, and where diversity can be discussed and celebrated. By developing collaboration across social, academic, and professional networks, we will support the well-being of students in the faculty of education.

 

The ideal format of the conference will be hybrid. We acknowledge that many graduate students are becoming overwhelmed by online meetings and events, and are craving in-person connection. Therefore, we hope to meet in person on McGill's campus, provided it is safe to do so. However, an unexpectedly wonderful outcome of the pandemic is the way it has localized the global community in online spaces, and since many students are studying and working remotely, we believe a hybrid format will allow more students the opportunity to present or attend virtually. Stay tuned for updates as to what a hybrid conference will look like as the EGSS Conference and community itself moves forward in the face of Challenge and Change… with Resilience.