2025 Conference: A New Era for Professionalism: Teacher Identity, Authenticity and Agency
A New Era for Professionalism: Teacher Identity, Authenticity and Agency
The 2025 SCoTENS Annual Conference took place in the stunning surroundings of the Lough Erne Resort, Enniskillen, on 16 & 17 October 2025. This year’s theme, “A New Era for Professionalism: Teacher Identity, Authenticity, and Agency,” brought together educators, researchers, and policymakers to reflect on the evolving nature of teacher professionalism in a rapidly changing world.
The conference theme invited participants to critically examine how societal shifts, technological advancements—particularly the rise of AI—and evolving education policies are reshaping what it means to be a professional teacher. Discussions focused on the challenges and opportunities these changes present for maintaining teacher identity, authenticity, and agency in contemporary classrooms.
Delegates explored the multifaceted influences on teacher professionalism, including policy frameworks, curriculum reforms, and societal expectations. The conference aimed to illuminate both the pressures and possibilities shaping the future of teaching, with a focus on pedagogy, collaboration, and professional autonomy.
Key questions guiding the discussions included:
- How and why has teacher professionalism transformed in recent times?
- What factors are influencing, shaping, and defining teacher professionalism today?
- What strategies can sustain teacher identity, authenticity, and agency?
- What are the risks and challenges posed by rapid societal and technological change?
Over 100 delegates attended the conference, which was opened by Dr Pamela Cowan, SCoTENS Co-Chair. The event commenced with a compelling keynote address by Professor Viv Ellis (University College London Institute of Education), titled “Profession, Identity, and Agency: Authentic Keywords for Teacher Education.”
This was followed by video messages from Paul Givan MLA, Minister of Education, Northern Ireland, and Helen McEntee TD, Minister for Education and Youth, Ireland, who both expressed their support for the conference’s timely theme.
A call for expressions of interest resulted in a rich programme of parallel sessions across both days, covering the themes of Professionalism, Teacher Identity, Authenticity & Inclusion, and Agency. These sessions featured insightful presentations from researchers across the island of Ireland.
In addition, a dedicated poster presentation session ran alongside the parallel sessions, showcasing a diverse range of research projects. Posters were also displayed near the main conference room, allowing delegates to engage with them during breaks. Both the parallel and poster sessions received enthusiastic feedback from presenters and attendees alike.
A highlight of the event was the ninth annual Doctoral Roundtable, where twelve doctoral students presented their ongoing research and received informal feedback from peers and SCoTENS committee members.
On Thursday evening, a drinks reception was held to celebrate the launch of the SCoTENS Annual Report 2024 and a new book titled “Becoming a Teacher-Researcher: A Guide to Your Research Journey” by Dr Maria Campbell, Dr Deirdre Harvey, and Dr Mary Shanahan (ATU St Angela’s, Sligo), published by Bloomsbury Academic. The launch was introduced by Professor John Anderson, Visiting Professor at Ulster University.
Friday morning featured a second keynote by Dr Thomas Walsh, Associate Professor at Maynooth University, who delivered a thought-provoking address on “Teaching Through Time: Navigating Shifting Policies, Practices and Purposes.”
The ever-popular panel discussion, chaired by Professor Noel Purdy, Director of Research and Scholarship and Director of CREU at Stranmillis University College, Belfast. The panel included:
- Dr Ciara O’Donnell, Educational Consultant and Researcher, Maynooth University
- Dr Derek Grant, Director of Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA
- Patrick Hickey, AI Educator/Teacher, Cork
- Dr Geraldine Parks, St Mary’s University College, Belfast
- Professor Barbara Skinner, Ulster University
- Sammy Taggart, Course Director: PGCE Technology & Design, Ulster University
The conference concluded with the presentation of the inaugural Harry McMahon Award.
Harry McMahon, a founding member of SCoTENS, has made outstanding contributions to education both across the island of Ireland and internationally over the past six decades. With a particular passion for supporting early career researchers, it was fitting that the first recipient of this new award would be a participant in the Doctoral Workshop who demonstrated excellence in their research proposal.
SCoTENS was honoured to have Harry attend the conference in person to present the award to Clare Hogan from Dublin City University, whose research topic is titled: “An exploration into the impact of experiences of sexism on the wellbeing of women Home Economics teachers in the Irish post-primary context.”
If you were unable to attend the conference or would like to view the recordings, please see the details below:
Previous Conferences
2024
Innovative Pedagogies for Inclusive Education: Implications for Policy and Practice
2023
Celebrating 20 years of SCoTENS: Hopes, Dreams and Possibilities for Teacher Education
2022
Reflecting, Reconnecting and Re-Engaging with the Core Purpose(s) of Education
2021
All in this together! Teacher Education and Social Justice
2020
Teacher Education in the COVID Moment
2019
Leadership across Boundaries: Challenges for Educators and Teacher Educators
2018
Education as a Common Good: the Role of Teacher Education
2017
Educational innovation: the challenge of evidence-informed change
2016
Communities of practice: Learning together to teach together
2015
