Special Interest Groups

BERA has Special Interest Groups (SIGs) which represent the particular research concerns of groups of members. Current SIGs are listed here:

BERA SIGs

• Arts Based Educational Research
• Assessment
• Comparative and International Education
• Creativity in Education
• Early Childhood Education and Care
• Educational Effectiveness and Improvement
• Educational research and educational policy-making
• Higher Education
• Inclusive Education
• Leading and Managing Schools and Colleges
• Learning in the Professions
• Literacy and Language
• Mathematics in Education
• Mentoring and Coaching
• Neuroscience and Education
• New Technologies in Education
• Philosophy of Education
• Physical Education and Sports Pedagogy
• Post-compulsory and Lifelong Learning
• Practitioner Research
• Race, ethnicity and education
• Religious and moral Education
• Research Methodology in Education
• Science Education
• Sexualities
• Social Justice
• Social Theory and Education
• Socio-cultural and cultural-historical activity theory
• Teacher Education and Development

SIG activities

Each SIG is different. SIGs are managed and developed by BERA members and for BERA members. Some SIGs have regular events and conferences, others communicate primarily through the on-line community space. Some SIGs have hundreds of members, while others attract a smaller membership. All BERA members are eligible to join any SIG.

SIG on-line community

Many SIG activities are planned, managed and conducted through the SIG on-line worksites within the BERA on-line community. This community area is currently under development and BERA members will be kept up-to-date with changes through the news pages. At present, to engage with the SIG on-line community, please click here and follow the instructions for self-registering. Then email your username and the SIG that you wish to join to either the SIG convenor (contact details listed on the SIG webpage) or the BERA Web Mediator.

How to start a new SIG

SIGs are an important part of BERA and BERA Council welcomes proposals for new SIGs to ensure we meet the changing needs of BERA members. Ruth Leitch is the member of Council responsible for BERA SIGs.

SIGs may be established by BERA Council following a request made by at least 20 members of BERA. Details of what is required are available from the BERA office and a proposal from is available for download here.

More information

For other questions relating to SIG membership, please contact the BERA Office by telephone (01625 504062) or email (admin@bera.ac.uk).