The Federal President of the Republic of Austria
We are very proud to announce that the ECER 2009 is under the patronage of Dr. Heinz Fischer, the Federal President of the Republic of Austria.
Austrian Federal Minister for Science and Research
Education - Equipping Europe's Youth for the Future
Over recent years education and training have become the buzzwords of topics on the future of our knowledge-based society since key aspects of the education sector are directly related to prosperity, competitiveness and social peace.
The foundation and the tools necessary for success in the work- and market place must be provided on an individual basis and in a sustainable manner. From age-appropriate pre-school teaching through all areas of schooling to continuing education and life-long learning, inherent talent and potential need to be fostered and supported at each individual level of education so that the development of a grounded personality is available to all. In this connection, the findings of educational research are of distinct importance since they form the basis for diverse stimuli for opportunities that ultimately can influence policies concerning the familiy and society.
Since the beginning of the 21st Century increasing national and international requirements demand that educational research act on a supranational level. However, this has led to an almost unmanageable amount of findings on "evidence-based" concepts, international comparisons and transnational quality and performance controls that cry out for focussed educational research unafraid of forging beyond national borders.
The European Conference on Educational Research being held this year in Vienna for the first time represents an important contribution in educational policy towards meeting the many challenges facing the achievement of harmony in educational research.
I should like to extend my best wishes to all participants for the success of their projects and initiatives and look forward to the results of what I am sure will be exciting discussions.
Dr. Johannes Hahn
Federal Minister for Science and Research
Austrian Federal Minister for Education, the Arts and Culture
Ladies and gentlemen,
In September 2009, the European Conference on Educational Research (ECER) with the theme “Theory and Evidence in Educational Research” will be held in Vienna.
For more than ten years, the activities of the European Educational Research Association (EERA) have made important contributions to the creation of a scientific basis for decision-making in national education policies. If we are to develop education in such a way as to meet future social challenges we must integrate the findings of national and international educational research. As Federal Minister for Education, the Arts and Culture I strongly believe that decisions in Austrian educational policy should be based on results of academic enquiry.
The creation of the World Educational Research Association (WERA), as envisaged in Göteburg at ECER 2008, will take place on 29 September 2009 at ECER 2009 in Vienna. This is an important step for international educational research and for national education policies. WERA will also promote national and international cutting-edge research in regions where research structures hitherto were either poorly developed or even non-existent. The mutual support between European and American educational research will strengthen the importance and influence of results for decision-making in the area of educational policy.
Here in Vienna, more than 2,000 participants from Europe and from other countries will critically discuss the latest issues in the field of educational research.
I wish ECER 2009 great success and I also wish the newly founded WERA positive development in the interest of national educational policies.
Dr. Claudia Schmied
Federal Minister for Education, the Arts and Culture
Vice Rector University of Vienna
Dear Participants of ECER 2009,
As Vice Rector responsible for Educational Program Development and Internationalization I am proud that Vienna University has been chosen for hosting this year´s European Conference on Educational Research – I am, therefore, very happy to welcome you all to one of the oldest and biggest European universities. As the University of Vienna is committed to research and education conforming to the highest international standards I am particularly proud to extend a special welcome to the members of the World Educational Research Association, WERA, which will be launched at this Conference.
We hope your stay with us will be instructive and gratifying, and that the theme of the conference, “Theory and Evidence in European Educational Research”, will inspire critical and creative discussion.
Univ. Prof. Dr. Arthur Mettinger
Vice Rector University of Vienna
Local Organizing Committee
Dear Participants of ECER 2009,
As Vice Rector responsible for Educational Program Development and Internationalization I am proud that Vienna University has been chosen for hosting this year´s European Conference on Educational Research – I am, therefore, very happy to welcome you all to one of the oldest and biggest European universities. As the University of Vienna is committed to research and education conforming to the highest international standards I am particularly proud to extend a special welcome to the members of the World Educational Research Association, WERA, which will be launched at this Conference.
We hope your stay with us will be instructive and gratifying, and that the theme of the conference, “Theory and Evidence in European Educational Research”, will inspire critical and creative discussion.
Univ. Prof. Dr. Stefan Hopmann, Chair
On behalf of the Local Organizing Committee
