From the classroom to the conference

(From left) Amrit Thapa with his students Zigiao Zeng, Rameen Iftikhar, Ramsha Fatima, Niraj Singh, Chengchen Liu, Eunbin Kim, Sara Jarrar, Farzanah Darwish, GED’TK, Marcelo Silva at the CIES conference in Chicago.

At the 69th annual Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) conference in Chicago, two dozen Penn GSE graduate students joined a global exchange of ideas and gained invaluable experience.

One student called it “life-changing” after presenting his research, while another connected with a Brazilian Education Ministry representative who offered assistance on policy research. A pair of students showcased their multimedia ethnographic project on Pakistani gender-diverse communities, gaining broad exposure for their work.

These opportunities were part of a dynamic CIES gathering at which first- and second-year graduate students joined Penn GSE faculty and alumni and thousands of educators, researchers, and policymakers from across the globe.

The Penn GSE contingent included many students and faculty from the International Educational Development Program (IEDP) who contributed research presentations, panel discussions, committee engagements, and networking sessions.

IEDP and Penn GSE faculty members—including Ameena Ghaffar-Kucher, Mike Nakkula, Daniel Wagner, Sharon Wolf, Amrit Thapa, Tyler Hook, and Andrew Babson—participated in critical conversations, sharing their expertise and ongoing projects.

Penn GSE alumni from the US, Indonesia, and Qatar attended the conference, and IEDP hosted an informal reunion one evening, attracting nearly 50 students, faculty, and alumni.

Ghaffar-Kucher, a senior lecturer and director of IEDP, led the student group. For many Penn GSE students, CIES is their first exposure to a significant professional event. Still, she said the conference is very “student-friendly,” with opportunities to showcase posters and present research, networking, and mentoring sessions.

“They learn what is happening in the field, meet the players, broaden their knowledge base and network, and meet other students and other people,” she said.

Ghaffar-Kucher participated on three panels, including a highlighted session on Islamophobia and a preview of her chapter in a new book, Global Education: Linking Theory and Practice, edited by Kristy Kelly; Penn GSE’s Wolf also contributed a chapter.

While faculty have many opportunities to share research and collaborate with colleagues, Ghaffar-Kucher said CIES is a standout opportunity for students to advance their research and studies and build networks.

Rameen Iftikhar and Ramsha Fatima’s multimedia project, “The Looking Glass,” includes a six-part docuseries and a storybook investigating gender and power in Pakistan. The students presented twice at CIES, expanding on their previous experiences in Cambodia, Germany, and the US. CIES offered them a large stage to share their work with more educators and policymakers, and the project was well received.

Another student, Marcelo Silva, displayed a research poster that attracted the attention of a Brazilian education official. Silva’s research examines the challenges and opportunities in implementing anti-racist practices within a private school network in Brazil, and the official offered to help with his policy coursework.  

Such interactions support the students’ research and professional development. In preparation for the conference, Ghaffar-Kucher and other faculty members helped students fine-tune their research and set goals. Advisors helped students organize their presentation materials and offered feedback on practice runs. They also discussed how to network to build connections rather than for job hunting.

“We want them to learn to build relationships with colleagues,” Ghaffar-Kucher said. “It is exciting and a little overwhelming, but we try to prepare them.”

To maximize the experience, the students received a detailed guide for “IEDP at CIES,” highlighting notable presentations and panels, including Penn GSE faculty, student, and alumni appearances. Ghaffar-Kucher also added practical advice, such as reminders to eat regularly and take in some Chicago sights.   

The IEDP supports students by covering membership and conference fees, and many students receive additional funds from the student government.

“We do whatever we can to reduce barriers,” said Ghaffar-Kucher, “so they can have this incredibly important experience.”