EECERA at 33: A Threshold Year of Belonging and Purpose

EECERA 2025 in Bratislava gave us a conference to remember. The opening reception in the aula of Comenius University — a beautiful and historic setting — began with warm welcomes from the Faculty of Education and our President, Professor Chris Pascal. Children danced, and a local teacher filled the hall with music on a long-necked lute-like instrument, creating an atmosphere that was both joyful and rooted in place.

Then came something only EECERA could deliver: a reception on a “beach” by the Danube. Sunshine, champagne, and reconnecting with colleagues from across the world made for a moment as unique as it was unforgettable. Later, some of us crossed the Old Bridge (Starý most), first built in 1891, to share dinner along the riverbanks.

The days that followed brought excellent keynotes (now available on the website), symposia that engaged, entertained, and challenged, and the everyday delight of bumping into old friends while meeting new colleagues. Smiling university students guided us through, delicious food sustained us, and Bratislava gave us a backdrop that reminded us of the true spirit of EECERA — rigorous scholarship, open dialogue, and warm community.

This year also marks EECERA’s 33rd birthday — often described as a threshold year, when energy and experience align, when preparation matures into purpose. For more than three decades, EECERA has led the field, nurtured generations of researchers and practitioners, and shaped the direction of early childhood education. At 33, it now stands at a turning point: carrying the lessons of the past into the possibilities of the next 33 years with renewed vision.

In today’s world of climate emergency, war, and threats to democracy, the real question is not “what benefits do I get by joining?” but rather: Is it not better to be part of this organisation — to stand with others, to belong, and to strengthen the field together?

EECERA is more than a membership list. It is a community of joiners — people who believe that through research, dialogue, and collaboration, we can make a difference for children, families, and societies. To become a member in EECERA’s 33rd year is to stand with colleagues across borders in solidarity, to contribute to shaping early childhood education globally, and to belong to a movement that will define the next 33 years of research and practice.

Membership is not about asking “what do I gain?” It is about choosing to belong, to stand together, and to carry forward the spirit of Bratislava into everyday research, practice, and policy.

Join us — because the future of our field is stronger when we build it together.