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PAULO FREIRE CONFERENCE AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY· EDIÇÃO 2026
Freire in the world: from Educational Practices
to the Transformation of Educational Systems
Two days of lectures, panel discussions, poster presentations, and audiovisual screenings on Paulo Freire’s work as a social technology — with concrete outcomes in curricula, teaching methodologies, structural reforms, and the design and implementation of public education policies around the world.
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02 - THEME & TRACKS
Pedagogical practice as a social technology for transformation.
Three tracks guide both the program and the call for papers. Each track offers an analytical lens on Freire’s work in dialogue with contemporary challenges, ranging from classroom practice to the (re)structuring of educational systems.
TRACK 01
From the classroom to public policy
Case studies and analyses on how Freirean thought underpins new pedagogical practices, national curricula, structural reforms, and education policies at both micro and macro levels.
TRACK 02
Ethics of dialogue and concrete indicators
Pedagogy as a social technology: experiences and research that show how to generate concrete indicators of learning and human development while maintaining the centrality of dialogue in educational relationships.
TRACK 03
Brazil and the world:
intellectual bridges
Comparative research and experiences that examine Freire’s contributions to contemporary challenges across different countries and continents.
03 - PAPER SUBMISSION
Submit your work by June 06
We accept submissions from students, educators, and researchers in two formats. A review committee will be established to evaluate the submissions.
MODALITY A
Academic Research
Works in progress or completed that connect Freire’s work with empirical research, theoretical analysis, or systematic reviews.
MODALITY B
Experience Report
Pedagogical practices, outreach projects, programs, and interventions that document Freire’s work in action—in schools, communities, or public policy.
FORMAT
All submissions must follow the same requirements and format:
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Submissions may be written in Portuguese or English.
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Manuscripts must be between 800 and 1000 words.
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Submissions may include up to 5 figures and 5 tables.
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Manuscripts should be written clearly and concisely, and must include the following elements:
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Central theme of the work
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Research or practice report objectives
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Methodology (when applicable)
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Main findings and/or contributions
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Submissions may include up to 15 references, which are not counted toward the 800–1000 word limit. References may follow either APA (7th edition) or ABNT style guidelines.
PUBLICATION
Authors of accepted submissions will be invited to submit a final version of their work for publication.
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The final publication version must remain within the 800–1000 word limit.
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Papers will be published exclusively on the official conference website (they will not be indexed).
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Presenters will receive an official certificate of presentation.
PRESENTATION
Authors of accepted submissions are expected to present their work during a poster session at the Conference.
SUBMISSION RESULTS
jun· 30 · 2026
04 - PRACTICAL INFORMATION
How to participate, where, and when.
DATES
September 18
and 19
More information coming soon.
FORMAT
In person at Columbia University
With the possibility of remote presentation.*
PARTICIPANTS
Students, educators, and researchers
The conference is open to the public.
LANGUAGES
Portuguese
and English
Submissions are accepted in both languages.
*The option for remote poster presentations is limited to participants residing outside the United States. Participants based in the United States are invited to register for in-person participation at the conference.
05 - ABOUT REGISTRATION
Registration fees
Residents of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Brazil
Participants residing in countries classified by the OECD as low- or middle-income countries.
Academics / Researchers / University Professors USD 20 + taxes*
K–12 Educators / Education Professionals USD 20 + taxes*
Undergraduate and Graduate Students USD 20 + taxes*
General Registration (Observers) USD 20 + taxes*
Residents of all other countries (including the United States and Europe)
Academics / Researchers / University Professors USD 35 + taxes*
K–12 Educators / Education Professionals USD 35 + taxes*
Undergraduate and Graduate Students USD 20 + taxes*
General Registration (Observers) USD 20 + taxes*
* Fees refer to service and processing charges on the registration platform.
Registration will open soon.
06 - ABOUT THE COMMITTEE
Organizing Committee
Prof. Dr. Paulo Blikstein
Dr. Andréia Assunção
PhD Candidate Fernanda Vasconcelos Dias
PhD Candidate Isabela Pereira Nikel
MA Mariana Lederman Edelstein
MS Isadora Caldas
Master’s Candidate Valéria Tadesco