Presentation

The RUNES/AFIRSE 2026 Congress continues the work of the francophone research network in education and training, in partnership with UNESCO. It brings together scientific perspectives on the contemporary changes affecting educational institutions, knowledge, and practices in a world shaped by multiple political, social, economic, climatic, and geopolitical tensions.

Ambition

This Congress aims to unite scientific, political, social, and economic stakeholders to create new momentum for francophone research in education. Research in education across varied scientific fields is abundant and diverse. Concretely, our project seeks to prepare the future by rethinking our expectations and roles in building a New Scientific Contract for Education:

• Preserve existing models for their protective and emancipatory value for all
• Reframe our analytical frameworks by identifying emerging opportunities and threats
• Detect unsustainable imbalances in educational systems to develop action levers responsive to emerging challenges
• Forge new research partnerships to broaden education’s reach within an ecosystemic approach

We will engage in an in-depth reflection on the educational ecosystem to build holistic representations. Researchers, educators, experts, policymakers, social partners, and administrators will share their expertise and practices. We will foster knowledge exchange to generate theories and actionable proposals, thus paving the way for our New Scientific Contract for Education.

Francophone research in education has faced numerous challenges to remain relevant across epistemological, methodological, and conceptual debates. Today, reflecting on the evolution of research questions, concepts, methods, and debates reveals a pivotal moment. We must ask: with which educational stakeholders will we engage? What new scientific contract do we wish to forge with policymakers, trainers, teachers, and other partners?

Mirroring the 2024 conference with the OPP (Observatory of Teaching Practices, Gustave Eiffel University), our goal is to create a space of “vitality” through collaboration between researchers and those who apply research findings (Attias-Delattre et al., 2023). We revisit the roles of actors, innovators, activists, and researchers in rebuilding a “participatory and emancipatory” scientific field in education (Baron, 2019), aiming for scientific controversies that blend uncertainties with divergent actor strategies (Comby, 2009).

Educational research describes and analyzes phenomena across diverse publics, contexts, and practices, aiming for social utility across sectors (CNU, France, 2023). As a scientific field, it emerged through disciplinary “cross-pollination” and distinct purposes: integrating theories and methods, bridging domains, and involving researchers, educators, experts, and policymakers. While plurality has been seen as an asset (Rayou, 2019; Janner-Raimondi, 2022), focusing on educational action brings us back to the actors.

We intend this Congress as a co-constructive process—visible and behind the scenes. Though led by UNESCO, RUNES (Research, Universities, Novelties, Higher Education) and AFIRSE (International Francophone Association of Scientific Research in Education), it will welcome contributions from all educational ecosystem stakeholders. Reflecting global stakes, it will be multilingual and internationally open.

Who We Are ?

RUNES (Recherche, Universités, Nouveautés, Enseignement Supérieur) is an international association serving higher education and research in the French-speaking world

Founded in 2025 under French law, RUNES is an international association led by researchers from the French higher education and research sector (ESR). It brings together partners who have already been working together for many years on Francophone and international scientific projects (Brazil, Canada, France, Greece, Lebanon, Mexico, DRC).

Our ambition

To contribute through scientific research to the transformation of higher education in the French-speaking world.

RUNES aims to :

• Develop multidisciplinary research projects,
• Promote actions in education, training and expertise,
• Encourage scientific production (publications, conferences, reports).

By bringing together ESR stakeholders:

• Researchers & teachers,
• Experts & trade unionists,
• Politicians & managers.

RUNES is a space for dialogue, reflection and action to rethink Higher Education and Research policies and practices together.

Contact us: runescongres@gmail.com

AFIRSE (Association Francophone Internationale de Recherche Scientifique en Éducation), founded in 1990, promotes the development of scientific research in education in the French-speaking world and its international dissemination, in French and in national languages. It aims to strengthen the impact of research on educational policies, teaching practices and the overall improvement of education systems.

To achieve this ambition, AFIRSE:

• Produces, disseminates and promotes educational research
• Supports methodological advances
• Promotes exchanges and collaborations
• Encourages international collaborative research
• Promotes critical and forward-looking thinking
• Contributes to the continuing education of its members
• Organizes scientific meetings

Contact us : afirsepresidence@gmail.com

Rationale

This ambitious Congress will strengthen francophone research in education by showcasing diverse contributions and fostering innovative international collaborations around our New Scientific Contract for Education. We will highlight emerging scholars’ concerns in their contexts and reinforce dialogue with UNESCO’s “New Social Contract for Education” (2021). Regardless of methodology, francophone research enriches understanding of the educational ecosystem. The natural links between UNESCO members and education researchers will be revitalized. RUNES and AFIRSE organizers will facilitate efficient dissemination of scientific developments impacting education.

Working Methodology

Recognizing education at a critical juncture, we will ask: do research outputs build a more equitable, democratic, and responsible society? How engaged will specialists be in understanding education’s ecosystem and in co-creating scientific controversies on public interest issues? Participants will learn through presentations, Q&A, and debates, experimenting and generating new representations and recommendations via an “learning by debate” process.

The Congress will feature plenary panels, symposia, and workshops:

• Plenary panels: thematic roundtables with researchers, UNESCO chairholders, NGO representatives, policymakers, and unionists. Topics include:
  • The educational ecosystem
  • Research transformations in the age of AI
  • Funding for education research (AFD, BEI…)
  • Roles of international education organizations
  • Future of francophone scientific journals in education and beyond
• Symposia: organized by partner research groups, including work from the March 2025 “Teaching with TV Series” symposium (University of Le Havre).
• Workshops: led by RUNES and AFIRSE country leads.

RUNES and AFIRSE executive teams, supported by regional researchers, will manage the project.