Tampere will host an international conference on educational research in August 2026
The ECER Conference is the largest education research conference in Europe, and it will be held in Tampere on 17—21 August 2026. The conference will be arranged by the European Educational Research Association EERA together with Tampere University’s Faculty of Education and Culture (EDU) and the City of Tampere.
“Organising the ECER conference helps to raise the themes of education and pedagogy to the public debate. Getting such a prominent and esteemed conference to Tampere also reflects our good reputation and appreciation for our university in this field of research,” says Dean Tiina Silander.
The theme of the conference is the practices, contents and topics of educational research in the changing world, which is reflected, for example, by multi-crises. The word multi-crisis refers to the fact that the world is not facing a single crucial problem but many different problems, confrontations and crises; but through them, also new opportunities and ideas. All this requires a broad understanding and development of scientific knowledge and knowledge-based modes of action.
The key issues of the conference relate to the fact that the production and utilisation of scientific knowledge are not done in a vacuum, but in relation to the practices of scientific research and the expectations and sometimes also the limitations of the surrounding society. At the same time, scientific knowledge related to education and the practices based on it can help understand and transform societies during multiple crises locally, nationally, and globally.
The conference is significant for EDU
EDU studies education and society and their transformations. The faculty’s key research themes -which are education in society, communities in education, and learning, pedagogy, and learning cultures - represent a broad range of educational research supported by ECER.
Organising an ECER conference is a joint effort for the faculty. It will give researchers and teachers a vantage point to the latest research in the field and allow students to get an overview of internationally shared challenges and debates.
“The arrival of top researchers to Tampere will undoubtedly also inspire our researchers to conduct increasingly ambitious research and engage in cutting-edge societal debate,” says Silander.
At EDU, Professor Nelli Piattoeva leads the conference preparations. She emphasises that the conference will also be an excellent opportunity to network with existing and future professionals in the field and to make the unique research event accessible to both degree students and doctoral researchers.
“At the conference, students, researchers and other professionals can engage in inspiring, international discussions and networking. Students can also get involved in the arrangements,” Piattoeva says.
Piattoeva praises Tampere University’s Congress Office for their important work. Their contribution is highly significant in getting such a large conference to Tampere.
“Our Congress Office is very experienced and provides invaluable services. Without their expertise, I would not have dared to take responsibility for such a large conference,” Piattoeva says
Tampere is an attractive congress city
The conference has the potential to widely strengthen the city's educational know-how. The collaboration it will enable between the scientific community and the city will promote the visibility of education research to residents and decision-makers. It is hoped that the conference activities will help decision-makers to discover educational links at the local level. Local education professionals are also welcome to learn new things.
“It will be a privilege for Tampere to host the top educational researchers at the ECER conference. The entire city and its education and early childhood services will act as a showcase for the international experts throughout the congress. We will also strive to enable the broad participation of our own experts and employees in the conference programme. The conference theme is also very relevant for our inhabitants. The education system plays a key role in broadening citizens' educational and societal understanding at the individual and community level,” says Lauri Savisaari, Director of Education at City of Tampere.
The international competition for hosting congresses is fierce. Laila Walldén and Pia Helminen from Tampere Convention Bureau are delighted with the win brought by the lengthy application process. Such events as the ECER conference will also serve as great references when Tampere applies for hosting congresses in the future.
“Getting the ECER conference in the city is an acknowledgement of Tampere’s appeal as a congress city. We also have the right facilities and broad expertise for organising congresses of this size,” says Walldén.
Congresses always last for several days, during which the guests can also get to know the city. “This, in turn, may further attract international talent to Tampere,” Helminen adds.
