From September 9 to 12, 2025, the annual European Conference on Educational Research (ECER) is taking place in Belgrade, Serbia, under the theme “Charting the Way Forward: Education, Research, Potential and Perspectives.” The event has brought together more than 2,700 participants from 75 countries, creating a unique international platform for sharing knowledge, research, and educational practices. Moscow City University (MCU) researchers are among the participants.
The official opening of ECER took place on September 9. Welcome speeches were given by Vladan Đokić, Rector of the University of Belgrade; Marit Honerød Hoveid, President of EERA; and Dražica Babić, Head of the Serbian branch of EERA. Following the plenary session, the work of 34 EERA research networks began. The sessions and symposia cover a wide range of topics — from social justice and intercultural education to inclusive practices, ICT in learning, and civic education.
On September 9, at one of the sessions, MCU Rector Igor Remorenko presented the study “Analyzing Educational Memes: A Tool for Meaning and Discourse Construction,” demonstrating how memes can be used to analyze educational policy, reflect public sentiments, and reveal hidden contradictions. Roman Kupriyanov, Head of the Department of Information Technologies and Services, also delivered a report titled “Using Generative AI to Create Historical Tutor Characters for Education,” focusing on digital AI characters of Ushinsky and Vygotsky that, through interactive conversations, help students develop critical thinking, professional skills, and apply theory in practice.
Researchers from the Institute of Digital Education, the Research Institute of Urban Studies and Global Education, the Institute of Foreign Languages, the Institute of Pedagogy and Psychology of Education, the Institute of Psychology and Comprehensive Rehabilitation, and the Institute of Economics, Management and Law are also representing MCU at the conference. In the following days, they will present research such as:
-
“Dialog Between Parents and Teachers in Co-Creating the Quality Criteria for ECEC Services Evaluation” (Igor Shiyan, Deputy Director of the Research Institute of Urban Studies and Global Education),
-
“Navigating the Future of Language Education: Educators’ Insights and Student Perspectives on AI Integration” (Irina Tivyaeva, Deputy Director of the Institute of Foreign Languages),
-
“A Comparative Study of Citizenship Education Policies in Asia-Pacific Countries” (Darya Milyaeva, Head of the International Relations Department),
-
“The Relationship Between Professional and Personal Competencies of Specialists Working with Children with Disabilities” (Anna Zvyagintseva, Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Psychology and Comprehensive Rehabilitation, and PhD student Ivan Porfiryev), among others.
The discussions of cutting-edge research, innovative practices, and international experience highlighted the importance of dialogue across countries and educational domains, serving as a stimulus for new joint projects and knowledge exchange within the global educational community. Researchers and experts worldwide will continue these discussions at the next ECER, scheduled for 2026.
Photo: MCU