Our network consists of scholars from different educational fields, of those many are brave doctoral students trying out new theoretical approaches. Therefore, the network wants to create inclusive spaces where junior and senior scholars support each other. We aim to run this network organically with a community approach through a clear distribution of responsibilities and working from the ground up to fill up the positions with new people. Through this, we also want to build a sense of belonging in academia.
Conveners
The role of the conveners is to organize sessions, handle pre-conference funding, and other tasks related to the NERA organization. However, the most important role of the convener is to build a community through a few steps for engagement (see below). This way, the work load is less for the convener and, most importantly, several persons will be ready to take over after the convener.
We suggest changing conveners every other year, and that a convener stays on for three or four years. Preferably overlapping so that one is more experienced. For example convener 1: 2022-2026, convener 2: 2024-2028 etc.
An nomination committee is appointed at the network meeting and they prepare suggested (asked) persons for the next year.
Steps for Engagement
Even if there are some levels of experience and seniority in the steps, one “adds” steps your your experience rather than move from one to the next step.
Step 1: presenting in the network, attending pre-conference, attending network meeting
Step 2: chairing a session, sharing information through Facebook and to the conveners
Step 3: organizing a pre-conference
Step 4a: convener
Step 4b: member of the nomination committee
Pre-conference Organizing Committee
We propose a committee of four people, where, ideally, two were part of the organizing committee previous year and two new. It is good to have a local connection to the town where the conference is held. The conveners support the process.