The ISfTE 2023 Election committee has completed the first round of its work.
Three individuals, who met the criteria for the positions, were nominated and submitted statements for the 2 Member-at-Large positions.
The three candidates (in alphabetic order by first name) are:
- Karoline Nilsen Kongshavn, PhD Candidate, the University of Agder, Norway
- Kezang Sherab, Associate Professor/Dean Research and Industrial Linkages, Royal University of Bhutan, Paro College of Education, Bhutan
- Ugochukwu K. Agi, Professor of Educational Management at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Below find Candidate statements and recommendations from the Election committee.
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Candidate statements:
Nominee: Karoline Kongshavn
Title: PhD Candidate at the University of Agder, Norway
Statement: I was introduced to ISfTE last year (2022). At the time, I was working as a university lecturer, teaching mathematics for preservice teachers and in-service teachers grade 1-7. Encouraged by one of my great colleagues, last Spring I wrote a paper for JISTE and participated in my very first ISfTE conference in Florianopolis, Brazil.
Participating in the conference was a really good experience in many ways. I met many interesting people. The academic discussions, presentations, and debates were really inspiring, and I learned a lot about different perspectives on education and cultures of teaching. I also learned a lot about myself, as I became more aware of my own perspectives and the culture that I am a part of. The feedback I received on my paper in the review process for JISTE was helpful in further developing my writing and gave me the motivation and insights I needed to finish the paper. I found that the whole experience of peer-reviewing was less intimidating than I first expected, and I think it gave me a good first-time experience. In general, it was a good opportunity to practise reading, reviewing, and discussing others’ work as well, which is useful both as a researcher and an educator.
Based on my own good experiences, I really hope that this society may also become more known to other new coming researchers and teacher educators. Though I am relatively new to the society, and to the teacher education field in general, I would love to be able to participate in the further development of this society in the position of Member-at-Large in the Executive Committee. I was very lucky to have a colleague who inspired me and pushed me to write for JISTE. I hope I too can be that colleague for others as well, both current members of ISfTE and those unknown to the society.
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Nominee: Kezang Sherab
Title: Associate Professor/Dean Research and Industrial Linkages, Royal University of Bhutan, Paro College of Education, Bhutan
Statement: My first association with ISfTE dates back to the 2005 annual seminar held in Taipei. My co-author Professor Warren Halloway, a veteran ISfTE member presented our paper as I was not able to attend the seminar. My first ISfTE attendance was at the 2008 annual seminar hosted by the University of New England in Australia.
Ever since then, I have been actively involved in the ISfTE seminars and also publication with JISTE. I was the convener of the annual seminar in 2012 hosted by the Paro College of Education, in Bhutan. This seminar helped to introduce many new members to ISfTE. After that, I had the opportunity to serve as the Member-at-Large w.e.f 2013 to 2015 and also had an opportunity to review manuscripts for JISTE. As of now, I have attended a total of six annual ISfTE seminars (Australia 2008, Bhutan 2012, Hongkong 2013, Turkey 2014, Canada 2019, and Brazil 2022). It is indeed my honor and a great privilege to be the second time convener of the Bhutan ISfTE to be hosted in June this year.
I have always thought that bringing ISfTE to this part of the world is crucial as it provides opportunities to the academics and also school teachers and principals to share their work which otherwise is not possible. This also helps to introduce ISfTE to many new members. I wish to once again become a Member-at-Large and play an active role in promoting ISfTE. I feel that ISfTE should work towards attracting more members and also increasing seminar attendance. This is something that I would like to contribute through building networks and collaborations.
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Nominee: Ugochukwu K. Agi
Title: PhD, Professor of Educational Management at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Statement: I am reapplying for one of the positions for Members-at-Large of the ISFTE Board as my current tenure on the board ends during the coming Seminar at Bhutan, 2023. I have remained a member of the ISFTE since I attended the Seminar in Denmark in 2017. Though, after the Seminar in Japan in 2018, visa denial has hampered several attempts I made to attend any further. Despite that setback, I have been part of meetings held virtually working on the progress of the Society.
I have put myself forward for the above mentioned position, because I believe that along with the efforts and vision of the Executive members of the Board and others, ISFTE could be driven to achieving laudable heights in bringing together renowned scholars and teachers worldwide while at the same time propelling issues of teaching and learning. Through this society teacher education could gain International perspectives regardless of national and local peculiarities.
I am further driven by the conviction that the African continent from where I come would benefit immensely from having ISFTE Seminars if I help to popularize it through contacts gained during academic conferences, seminars and workshops. I must mention here that, fewer attendance from West African States in particular has been largely due to the Seminar’s distance away from it. So my top priority if nominated now will be to encourage the situation of some future seminars in Africa.
Again, I will support ISFTE drive for a wider circulation of its journals and publications by maintaining contacts of institutions of higher education in the world through strategic planning.
Finally, if nominated, I will continue to work and support the Board to actualize the dreams of the founding members of the Society and seek to break new grounds for its continuous sustenance and success going into the future.
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Recommendation:
At this point, the Election committee will send the list of candidates to existing members for a vote.
The Election Committee members:
Katarina Pantic, USA (Chair); Karen Bjerg Petersen, Denmark; Joana Franco (Brazil)
