ARPCE 6th International Conference

ARPCE are delighted to announce that we have partnered with both the Education Training Foundation and Edge Foundation who have kindly sponsored the 2026 ARPCE conference.

Whilst arrangements with both sponsors are different, without their support it would now be almost impossible to run this conference and keep it affordable and accessible. However, we are also very aware that funding for conference attendance (particularly for colleagues working in the FE sector) can be almost impossible to secure.

To help mitigate these difficulties Edge Foundation have kindly sponsored 6 places for full board whole weekend attendance at the conference (this includes Friday and Saturday night accommodation, all meals from Friday evening to Sunday lunch time and all conference fees. Transport to and from Oxford is not included).

To qualify to apply, you must work in the UK FE sector (this includes 3rd sector, PTPs, prison and community education etc) and have submitted a conference abstract (funding is subject to acceptance after peer review).

Conference submission details are here: https://lnkd.in/eSHXFd4U

To apply for one of the 6 fully funded places, please e mail a brief description of your research area and how this attendance will support your ongoing work. Your research must be relevant to the post compulsory sector and you must work for a UK based institution or be an independent UK based researcher.

Please send E mail submissions along with your CV to gary.husband@sunderland.ac.uk by 5 pm February 28th 2026.

Applicants will be notified of decisions by e mail in the week commencing 2nd March 2026.

Friday 10th July – Sunday 12th July 2026, Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, UK

Conference call for papers for the 6th international research conference organised by the Association for Research in Post-compulsory Education (ARPCE) in Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, UK Friday 10 July – Sunday 12 July 2026 conference theme: research in post-compulsory education.

This international conference aims to bring together researchers and practitioners in post-compulsory education from across the globe. As an inclusive and welcoming event, the conference provides an opportunity for participants to spend 3 days in inspirational surroundings sharing ideas and projects with like-minded people. The ARPCE committee is keen to attract early career researchers, those with teaching or professional roles in post-compulsory education, as well as established researchers and journal contributors.

Contributions on any aspect of post-compulsory education are very welcome, including professional education, adult learning, further and higher education, work-based learning, community education. Presenters may focus upon theory, practice, or methodology, and be prepared to share their work in a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

As conference places will be strictly limited, conference paper abstracts up to 250 words should be submitted as soon as possible and no later than 19 January 2026 to ARPCE.INFO@gmail.com . Alternatively, we also accept submissions for conference posters, symposia and artistic or creative presentations, please submit as abstracts using the same method, clearly stating proposed format. All proposals will be peer reviewed by the ARPCE committee. Accepted papers will be allocated a 30-minute session and symposia 90 minutes (duration for other forms of presentation can be discussed individually). Presenters will be given 20 minutes to summarise their research, and the balance of time will be open for discussion of the paper.

All decisions regarding submissions will be communicated in early February 2026.

Participants may book into Harris Manchester College accommodation for all or part of the conference. Day attendance will also be possible. Booking information and prices (for full board and day attendance) will be published in due course and preferential booking arrangements will be given to those with accepted abstracts.

Following the success of the previous five ARPCE Conferences at this venue in July 2014, July 2016, July 2018, July 2022 and July 2024, we expect there will be keen demand for places, and therefore early application is advised. Details of keynotes and additional activities (e.g. historical walks, ‘fringe events’ and conference meals) will be published early 2026.

For all additional enquiries, please e mail Professor Gary Husband on gary.husband@sunderland.ac.uk