The scientific conference Educational Sciences and Perspectives on Education – PhD Students’ Days 2026, dedicated to the theme “The Development of Education and Development through Education”, was held on 2 and 3 October 2026 at the Faculty of Education of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek.
This year’s conference brought together 43 PhD students from Osijek, Zagreb, Split and Pula, providing them with an opportunity to present their current research, exchange scientific ideas and connect different research perspectives. The diversity of topics and methodological approaches once again demonstrated the breadth of the field of education and the complexity of the challenges facing contemporary researchers.
The central theme of the conference was education as one of the key factors in the development of individuals and society, as well as a field that is constantly changing in response to social, cultural, scientific and technological developments. Participants explored the ways in which education shapes individuals and society and how social changes are reflected in educational systems, processes and practices. These issues were addressed from the perspectives of the social sciences, humanities and various interdisciplinary fields.
A special part of the programme was the round table “Science in the Making”, during which six PhD students currently working on their doctoral dissertations presented their research and opened it up for discussion. The round table provided an opportunity to exchange experiences, reflect on research decisions and receive constructive feedback, while also creating space to discuss the challenges PhD students encounter while developing and completing their research. Such forms of open dialogue contribute to the development of research independence and the formation of young researchers’ scientific identities.
The programme was further enriched by a keynote lecture delivered by Marinela Boras, PhD, entitled “Foreign Language Teaching in Schools in the Republic of Croatia: Current State and Perspectives.” The lecture offered valuable insight into current issues in foreign language teaching in the Croatian school system and encouraged discussion about opportunities for its further improvement. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of connecting scientific knowledge with educational practice and considering how research can contribute to improving the quality of education.
The PhD Students’ Days 2026 once again confirmed their importance as a meeting place for young researchers, the exchange of scientific ideas and the development of collaboration. In addition to presenting individual research findings, the conference contributed to connecting PhD students from different academic backgrounds, strengthening the research community and creating opportunities for future scientific cooperation and projects.
The Book of Abstracts of the Scientific Conference Educational Sciences and Perspectives on Education – PhD Students’ Days 2026 has also been published, bringing together abstracts of the presented papers and providing an overview of current research questions, theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches and findings emerging from the participants’ scientific work.
