Our Network
Across the UK, Europe and world, theoretical and philosophical reflection on education has provided vital opportunities to broaden debates in education from practical questions of how, to more foundational questions of what and why. Organizations committed to theoretical and philosophical research have blossomed over the last 20 years (see wider network below) and associated publications are growing in their reach and significance.
The conditions of education in contemporary culture require the kinds of debate that these organizations and publications serve. These debates engage in examination of the fundamentals of educational practices and policies, particularly where national and global forces of unity and disunity threaten to elide opportunities for deeper, more interculturally informed, reflection.
This network intends to sustain, reinforce and promote theoretical and philosophical research at a critical time in the history of this nation.
We aim:
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To sustain, reinforce and promote theoretical and philosophical research in education
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To disseminate discussion of theory and philosophy of education
Questions for Future Debate:
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What is the place of Theory and Philosophy of Education?
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What is the relation of theory and practice in education?
Wider Networks of Theorists and Philosophers.
Network Activities
All future updates can be found in the SERA Latest section of this website under the Theory and Philosophy Network category.
2026
29th May: Brilliant Yet Shadowed Seminar Series – 4. Online with Key Speakers, Dr Shone Surendran and Dr Tinni Gowami
24th April: Brilliant Yet Shadowed Seminar Series – 3. Online with Key Speakers Professor Samuel Mendonca, Milena Cuccurullo and Yuting Jia
20th March: Brilliant Yet Shadowed Seminar Series – 2. Online with Key Speakers, Dr Jonathan Firth, Louis Waterman Quist and Walker Ballard
20th February: Brilliant Yet Shadowed Seminar Series – 1. Online with Key Speakers, Nicola Robertson, Motoko Han and Lu Sophia Leng
Contact Information
To find out more about the network, please contact our convenors.
Social Media
X: SERA_TPN
LinkedIn: SERA Theory and Philosophy Network
Convenors
Dr Nicola Roberston, University of Strathclyde.
Vijayita Prajapati, University of Strathclyde.
Michael Quinn, University of Glasgow
Publications
Prajapati, V., Quinn, M. & Robertson, N. (Eds.)(2025). Brilliant Yet Shadowed: Shining a Light on Lesser Known Thinkers in Education. SERA Researching Education Bulletin Special Issue, October 2025.
Robertson, N. (2025). The Big Door Prize: Conceptualising potential in education as an arrow. Educational Philosophy and Theory.
Robertson, N. & Prajapati, V. (2025). Adult Education: Learning to do, or learning to be? In N. James, K. Orr & S. Clancy (Eds.) Research Handbook on Adult Learning and Education, 72-81. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Robertson, N. & Chen, Y. (eds.) (2025). Autobiography, Fan Fiction, and Education. Bloomsbury.
Roberston, N. (2024) Pedagogical reduction: crafting the educational reality. SERA Researching Education Bulletin Anniversary Edition 2. pp. 39-42.