1. The Science of Teaching: What Does Effective Teaching Look Like in Practice?

This theme will focus on:

• Empowering Educators for 21st Century Learners Innovative pedagogical approaches that address learning needs/challenges, particularly in under-resourced settings,
• Leveraging the science of teaching to improve student engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes
• Experiences with science of teaching in Africa.

2. Digital and AI Tools in Education: Opportunities and Challenges.

This theme will focus on:

• Practical applications of Digital Tools and AI that can enhance teaching and learning in resource-challenged settings,
• Ethical considerations and potential biases associated with Digital Tools and AI in education, ensuring equitable access and fair use
• Initiatives exploring how Digital Tools and AI can bridge the digital divide and provide quality education to remote and marginalized communities,
• Innovations harnessing Digital Tools and AI for evidence generation, translation contextualization, and strategic and operational decision-making.

3. Foundational Literacy and Numeracy: Building a Strong Base for Lifelong Learning

This theme will focus on:

• Initiatives emphasizing the importance of early childhood education and targeting foundational skills, especially in challenged settings.
• Evidence-based approaches for improving literacy and numeracy outcomes in primary education such as language of instruction, remediation, or any other
• African-made approaches.
  Indigenous approaches to foundational literacy and numeracy
• Initiatives exploring how to address learning gaps caused by conflicts, epidemics, or natural disasters.
• Innovative approaches targeting access, and retention. They may include aspects around child safety, social and emotional learning, or any other relevant foundational skill.

4. Knowledge Mobilization for Educational Impact

• Innovative solutions showcasing successful examples of how research evidence has been translated into policy and practice.This can include policy events, audits and feedback, etc…
• Discuss the role of various stakeholders – educators, researchers, policymakers, and community members – in promoting evidence-informed decision-making.
• Explore innovative ways to communicate research findings to a wider audience, using storytelling, visual media, and other African-led approaches.
• Modeling innovations and research evidence into different contexts.

5.Ethics in Educational/Social Science Research

• Explore how ethical considerations can guide the use of technology, data, and AI in education.
• Ethical Review Processes and Institutional Responsibility: The role of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) in ensuring ethical research practices.
• Streamlining ethical review processes while upholding rigor and protecting participants.
• Promoting ethical awareness and training for researchers and educators.

6. Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborating for Educational Excellence

• Foster dialogue and collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including government officials, educators, parents, students, community leaders, and NGOs.
• Discuss strategies for building trust, shared understanding, and collective action to improve educational outcomes.
• Highlight successful examples of community-led and co-created initiatives that have made a positive impact on education.

7. Communicating Research Evidence: Making it Accessible and Actionable

• Equip educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders with the skills to interpret and apply research findings.
• Promote the use of clear, concise language and visuals to communicate research evidence effectively.
• Encourage the development of research summaries, policy briefs, guidelines, evidence portals, and other resources that are tailored to the needs of different audience.

8. Teacher Professional Development and Practice in the 21st Century

• Trends in teaching practice in context of digital education.
• Teaching quality and supervision of instructional processes.
• Best practices in teacher professional development in the 21st century.
• Issues and prospects for the digitalisation of instructional materials.