[EduLab] Laboratory of Educational Theories

The establishment of EduLab was motivated by the necessity for a well-versed, carefully thought through, and systematic response to the challenges posed by various educational conceptions and policies in contemporary society. In a comprehensive and critical manner, we explore the development of the very ideas about education, their historical variations, and their relations towards educational policies. In addition, we compare different levels of education, through which contemporary conceptions and practices fracture and come in contact with new generations.

Members of Edulab are experts in the fields of philosophy, sociology, psychology, pedagogy, political science, anthropology, andragogy, and literary theory. Our vision is to contribute to the betterment of education through research, collaboration and public engagement.

EduLab has three main goals

• Offering a fresh theoretical perspective on education through interdisciplinary scientific research.
• Making education more present in the public through organizing lectures, discussions, debates, round tables, and other public events, including as many relevant agents in education as possible (academia, teachers, decision-makers, students, parents, etc.).
• Finding ways for the results of the theoretical work and public engagement to be applied in practice, by discovering innovative solutions for current problems of the educational system and creating alternative educational contents that could revive interest for the humanities and social sciences, both in school and beyond.

We also strive to connect with colleagues and institutions with similar aims in the country, region and beyond, because we believe that the creation of an active network of interested collaborators: members of academic community and teachers, is necessary for a true improvement of educational theory and practice.

In line with the stated goals, the main activities of Edulab include:

• Organizing the international biannual conference Why Still Education?, whose main focus is determined each year by a different subtitle. This event is meant to intensify the theoretical exchange between experts from the region and beyond, and in this way also practically contribute to improvement and innovation with respect to educational strategies;
• Forming a relevant library of texts and other materials concerning the theory of education;
• Organizing reading groups, lectures, seminars, round tables, scientific meetings, and other events concerning the education, meant for academic community and the wider public;
• The production of expert contributions and initiating scientific debates on education in the country, region, and beyond;
• Cooperation with kindergarten teachers, schoolteachers, and university professors, and organizing seminars for educational workers;
• Promoting greater influence of experts on the public and decision-makers regarding educational policies;
• Producing new educational contents and tools, primarily in the field of humanities and social sciences, with a special focus on new media.

Members:

Aleksandar Pavlović
Đorđe Hristov
Igor Cvejić
Ivan Nišavić
Jelena Ćeriman
Marija Velinov
Mark Lošonc
Milana Gajović
Milica Sekulović
Miloš Janković
Olga Nikolić
Predrag Krstić
Tamara Plećaš
Anu Lipij
Aleksandar Fatić

External associates:

Aleksa Jovanović (Faculty of Andragogy, University of Belgrade)
Aleksandar Milanković (Ph.D. student at the Faculty of Pedagogy, University of Belgrade)
Aleksandar Ostojić (Faculty of Economics, University of Novi Sad)
Dragana Purešević (Faculty of Pedagogy, University of Belgrade)
Iva Subotić Krasojević (Center for Museology and Heritology, University of Belgrade)
Marija Petrović (Institute for Philosophy, University of Belgrade)
Miloš Jeremić (High School in Požarevac)
Nataša Lacković (Department of Educational Research, Lancaster University)
Nevena Mitranić (Faculty of Pedagogy, University of Belgrade)
Siniša Gavrić (High School in Aranđelovac)
Tijana Velikinac, (First High School in Kragujevac)

Coordinator: Ivan Nišavić, research fellow; e-mail: ivan.nisavic@instifdt.bg.ac.rs