News

ALARA is putting out a call for proposals to contribute to the global body of experiential learning knowledge that brings about meaningful change through new understandings and building of communities of practice through action learning and action research (AL/AR).

Norwich University will host the 10th ALARA Action Learning Action Research and 14th Participatory Action Research (PAR) World Congress June 17-20, 2018, on its Northfield, Vt. campus. The opportunity to submit proposals for participation in the World Congress is now open, as is registration for attending the event. Visit the event website for more information.

For those interested in submitting a proposal for participation in the World Congress, there are five available tracks. A paper, symposium, workshop, or poster proposal should be submitted that focuses on action learning and action research experiences of one of individuals, professionals, communities’ developments, organizational advancements or global initiatives.

WHO: Action research practitioners and scholars who are passionate about the power of experiential learning to generate collaborative learning, training research and action to advance social change and transform workplaces.

WHAT: 10^th ALARA Action Learning Action Research and 14^th Participatory Action Research (PAR) World Congress will include concurrent sessions during the four-day event, with the majority of events set to take place on the campus of Norwich University. A full listing of events will be available on the event website online.norwich.edu/ALARA once available.

The Congress theme focuses on the following five streams/tracks of experiential learning knowledge base:

1. Action Learning/Action Research (AL/AR) Experiences of Individuals
2. AL/AR Experiences of Professionals
3. AL/AR for Communities’ Developments
4. AL/AR for Organizational Advancements
5. AL/AR for Global Initiatives

More information about the conference tracks can be found via the event website. In addition to inclusion in the World Congress event, selected proposals may be featured in the organization’s publications – the World Congress Proceedings or the ALAR Journal.

WHERE: Norwich University, Northfield, Vt.

As Norwich University prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2019, the 10th ALARA World Congress will complement the university’s 2018 Year of Legacy, which highlights the university’s long-time commitment to providing its students with experiential, hands-on learning opportunities. Additionally, Norwich University’s ALARA chapter will celebrate its first anniversary during the World Congress event.

WHEN: Deadline for proposals is March 2, 2018. Register by April 2, 2018; early bird registration with a discounted registration cost ends March 15, 2018. The World Congress event is June 17-20, 2018

WHY: To contribute to the global body of experiential learning knowledge that brings about meaningful change through new understandings and building of communities of practice through action learning and action research. 

HOW: To submit proposals for the ALARA World Congress event or to register, visit the event website. 

BACKGROUND:

The ALARA Action Learning Action Research and Participatory Action Research (PAR) World Congress is a gathering of more than 200 international scholars, action research practitioners and stakeholders. In June 2018, the World Congress will be held concurrent with the annual Norwich University College of Graduate and Continuing Studies (CGCS) Residency Week for graduates of the university’s online degree programs.

ALARA’s (Action Learning, Action Research Association, Inc.) vision is for action learning and action research to be widely used and publicly shared by individuals and groups whose aim is to effect local and global change for the achievement of a more equitable, just, joyful, productive and sustainable society.

ALARA events are designed to bring about meaningful change through new insights and the establishment of communities of practice around action learning and action research. The highly interactive nature of these events inspires and energizes participants as they network with colleagues from around the world, gathering new ideas and inspirations for their own projects. Previous delegates have appreciated the creativity of ALARA events and the strong sense of collegiality therein.

In fact, Bob Dick, an esteemed fellow of ALARA correctly established the interchangeable link between action learning, action research, and experiential learning when he argued that: “Both action research and action learning may be compared to experiential learning. As usually described, it is a process for drawing learning from experience. The experience can be something which is taking place, or more often is set up for the occasion by a trainer or facilitator. Clearly, both action research and action learning are about learning from experience. The experience is usually drawn from some task assumed by a person or team”

As an innovator in the American System of Education, and having demonstrated passionate commitment to transforming civilization throughout the past 200 years, Norwich University is a highly appropriate host for the 2018 World Congress. Furthermore, Norwich University’s legacy as an institution founded upon the principles of experiential learning—hands-on learning complemented by challenging co-curricular activities—firmly cements its suitability for hosting the 2018 ALARA World Congress.