2026 annual conference of the Swiss Society for Research in Education (SSRE) and the Swiss Society for Teacher Education (SGL)

«Education for a thriving and sustainable future» 

Global crises such as climate change, social inequalities, and geopolitical tensions, as well as disruptive developments and innovations — as those in the field of artificial intelligence —challenge education at all levels to rethink its contribution to a sustainable, resilient, and democratic society. In a rapidly changing and increasingly challenged society, it becomes clear that education must not only address existing problems but also create spaces for actively shaping a future worth living.

Educational processes should empower individuals to shape their own futures in meaningful ways and, at the societal level, to recognize complex challenges, take responsibility, and act in the interest of the common good. This requires engaging with ethical, social, ecological, and political issues, as well as fostering diverse perspectives, critical thinking, agency, and other transversal competences. Especially in times marked by instability and transformation, education plays a crucial role in promoting social cohesion and societal resilience.

Education for a thriving and sustainable future demands learning processes that not only convey knowledge but also strengthen attitudes, values, and collective capacity to act. This involves more than individual adaptation — it calls for social, cultural, and structural change.

The 2026 Annual Conference of the Swiss Society for Research in Education (SSRE), in collaboration with the Swiss Society for Teacher Education (SSTE), is dedicated to exploring how educational research and teacher education can contribute to addressing these challenges. The conference will highlight both innovative and evidence-based approaches and insights that rethink and further develop education in the context of sustainability, the common good, democracy, responsibility, and other emerging societal issues.