Reawakening Consciousness: Pedagogies of Hope and Participatory Learning for Transformative Futures
Working Group Coordinator: Prof. Abirlal Mukherjee
In an era marked by ecological collapse, widening inequalities, and the erosion of democratic values, education remains a critical space for collective imagination, solidarity, and transformation. The online working group “Reawakening Consciousness: Pedagogies of Hope and Participatory Learning for Transformative Futures” invites scholars, educators, practitioners, and activists to explore how pedagogical practices grounded in hope, sustainability, and participation can reawaken collective consciousness and nurture transformative futures.
Drawing inspiration from Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of Hope and intersecting with feminist, decolonial, and Indigenous educational frameworks, this working group seeks to theorize and enact education as a site of critical reflection, resilience, and agency. It particularly welcomes work that bridges theory and praxis through participatory, community-based, and creative methodologies.
Suggested Themes include (but are not limited to):
● Community-based sustainability education and participatory action learning
● Climate pedagogy, ecological literacy, and environmental justice education
● Critical storytelling, art, and performance as consciousness-raising tools
● Decolonial, feminist, and Indigenous approaches to transformative pedagogy
● Transnational pedagogies and global solidarities linking local struggles
● Digital pedagogies, AI-driven learning, and future possibilities
● Pedagogies of care, empathy, and emotional literacy in higher education
● Alternative epistemologies and knowledge systems in postcolonial education
● Education, social justice, and human rights in digital and physical classrooms
● Pedagogical innovation in crisis contexts—conflict, migration, and climate displacement
● Collaborative and experiential learning for community empowerment
● Narratives of resistance, hope, and renewal in educational praxis
Format and Activities:
This working group will feature the following activities:
● Paper Presentations: Participants will present full papers, followed by interactive Q&A
sessions.
● Panel Discussions: Thematic panels bringing together educators and researchers to share
diverse approaches and experiences.
Submission Guidelines:
● Abstract length (both paper and panel proposals): Maximum 300 words (excluding
references)
● Submission deadline: 30 November 2025
● Notification of acceptance: 8 December 2025
● Full paper/proposal submission: Required for all accepted participants: 30th
December
● Email for submissions and inquiries: research.abirlal@gmail.com
Important Dates:
● 7 November 2025: Call for Papers Opens
● 30 November 2025: Abstract Submission Deadline
● 8 December 2025: Notification of Acceptance
● 30th December 2025: Full paper/proposal submission.
● 12 January 2026: Registration Opens
● 15 February 2026: Registration Closes
● 25 February 2026: Pre-conference Events – DocShop, Master’s Workshop, Public
Forum
● 26–27 February 2026: #DevDays2026 Conference, Helsinki (Online participation for
this working group)
We particularly encourage interdisciplinary, intergenerational, and Global South collaborations that highlight community-based innovations and transformative educational practices. Through dialogue, storytelling, and collective reflection, this working group aims not only to analyze pedagogical alternatives but also to embody pedagogies of hope, co-creating a participatory digital space for sustainable and just futures.
Contact:
Prof. Abirlal Mukherjee
Email: research.abirlal@gmail.com