4/11/2026 – 6/11/2026

THEME

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Promoting the use of data on the educational system including those produced by INVALSI in scientific research and teaching

The 2026 Conference, “Evaluation and Research in Education“, will take place in Lecco, near Milan, from 4 to 6 November 2026. This event represents an important opportunity for researchers, experts, policymakers, teachers, school administrators, and all those interested in the use of data, materials, and findings from national and international surveys, as well as other relevant data in the field of education and training.

The INVALSI databases, enriched through collaboration with other agencies and institutions, can provide valuable insights for all stakeholders and the wider community. All interested parties are invited to submit paper based on data collected by INVALSI through national and international surveys and/or on data from other agencies which, either independently or in combination with INVALSI data, may contribute to investigating the many dimensions of the education system.

CALL FOR PANEL

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INVALSI, in collaboration with Politecnico di Milano, invites the national and international scientific community to submit Panel proposals for the Conference “Evaluation and Research in Education”, to be held from 4 to 6 November 2026.

Analysing educational systems is currently a key issue in scientific, political and institutional debates, particularly in light of the significant changes affecting the social, cultural and economic context of the country. Against this backdrop, there is an urgent need to encourage an extensive and systematic dialogue between different theoretical approaches, research methodologies and empirical sources, with the aim of achieving a nuanced, complex and multifaceted understanding of the Italian educational system and its potential future trajectories.

The body of information generated through INVALSI National Assessments and International Surveys is a valuable resource for identifying the strengths and critical issues of the education system. It provides a basis for reflecting on strategies for improvement, enhancement and support. These data become even more valuable when integrated with additional sources. The availability of longitudinal datasets, indicators and metadata enables investigation of educational processes at micro, meso and macro levels, and exploration of how such processes acquire specific characteristics when examined alongside social, territorial and economic factors.

In light of these considerations, the Conference aims to provide a space for discussion and exchange within the field of contemporary educational research. It seeks to foster dialogue among different theoretical approaches, disciplinary perspectives and methodologies.

In line with the Conference theme, preference will be given to proposals based on evidence-based educational research, emphasising the use of empirical evidence to enhance our understanding of, and improve, educational systems.

Panel proposals should meet the following criteria:

• Multidisciplinary approach: Panels should include contributions from different disciplines (e.g., pedagogy, sociology of education, economics of education, psychology, statistics, data science, etc.), to promote the integration of multiple perspectives.
• Methodological plurality: Contributions should employ a variety of methodologies, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches, paying particular attention to the triangulating evidence.
• Centrality of evidence-based research: Panels should address issues related to the use of empirical data in education, including analyses based on different types of data (e.g.; educational big data, experimental data, sample surveys and case studies, etc.).
• Comparative dimension: Proposal for panels conducting comparative analyses – both national and international – are especially encouraged, as they contribute to a deeper understanding of educational dynamics in different contexts.

Topics for which Panel proposals are invited include, but are not limited to:

• Digital competences, learning, and citizenship
• Macro- and micro-territorial inequalities
• Gender, stereotypes, and achievement gaps
• Artificial intelligence as a support for educational research
• Migration, citizenship, and educational pathways: new challenges for equity
• Social mobility, family background, and educational trajectories
• Educational poverty: indicators, intersections, and policy responses
• The role of teachers in complex school contexts
• Integrated use of data
• A multidimensional perspective on equity in educational opportunities.

Guidelines

• Panel proposals must include the following information:
  • Identification of one or two proponents of the panel, who will act as Scientific Coordinator(s) and will be responsible for selecting the submitted contributions in order to ensure the quality of the session;
  • Title of the session;
  • Three keywords;
  • A description of between 250 and 500 words.
• All panel proposals must be submitted by email to invalsi_conference@invalsi.it by 1 June 2026.
• Proposals will undergo a blind review process based on scientific quality, relevance to the Conference themes, degree of innovation, and the ability to integrate different disciplinary and methodological approaches.
• Once acceptance has been confirmed, the Scientific Coordinator(s) will be expected to promote the Panel proposal within their professional networks.

Each session must include a minimum of four presentations. Where possible, presentations may be distributed across multiple sessions if a larger number of contributions are received. Conversely, if fewer contributions are received, the Organising Committee reserves the right to reallocate the papers to other sessions.

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

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