The third edition of SCHIER will take place from 7 September to 11 September 2026, co-hosted by University of Glasgow in Glasgow, UK, sponsored by IBM Research Europe.
SCHIER 2026 Format
The School is organised as an in-person event hosted at the University of Glasgow (Gilmorehill campus). It is structured around six thematic strands that combine foundational perspectives with practical approaches to Informatics Education Research. Two themes focus on general methodological foundations, covering both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The remaining themes emphasise the design, implementation, and ethical dimensions of research in practice.
The programme spans five days and integrates lectures, interactive sessions, and participant-led activities. In addition, social and networking events are included throughout the week.
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Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
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Morning |
Research Paradigms |
Theoretical Framing |
Quantitative Methods (II) |
Qualitative Methods (I) |
Qualitative Methods (II) |
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13:00-14:00 Lunch Break |
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Afternoon |
Student Self-Presentations — Poster Session (16:15-18:00) |
Quantitative Methods (I) |
IBM Invited Presentation Structured Poster Discussion |
Ethics & Reflexivity |
Participatory & Design Approaches |
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City Visit |
Reception Evening |
Social Event |
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SCHIER 2026 Curriculum & Instructors
SCHIER 2026 brings together distinguished scholars from academia and industry with expertise in Informatics and education research. The sessions combine theoretical grounding with practical guidance for conducting high-quality research.
Research Paradigms with Dr Mark Peart, University of Glasgow (UK)
Learn more about the instructor Dr Mark Peart.
Theoretical Framing with Prof Andreas Mühling, IPN (Germany)
About the instructor:
Andreas Mühling leads the computer science education research group at the Leibniz Institute for Mathematics and Science Education (IPN) and at Kiel University. His research focuses on empirical research in K-12 computer science education, particularly programming and AI literacy both from learners and teachers perspectives.
He has co-chaired major conferences in computing science education, most recently Koli Calling (2023, 2024), organised doctoral consortia, and serves as a steering board member for the WiPSCE conference. He is also Associate Editor for Computer Science Education and member of the steering board of the German Informatics Society's CSE group and co-speaker of its regional chapter.
Learn more about the instructor Prof Andreas Mühling.
Quantitative Methods
More information will follow.
Qualitative Methods with Prof Erik Barendsen, Radboud University (the Netherlands)
Session description:
This two-session lecture addresses various methods used for qualitative research, that is, the kind of investigations where insights on activities, accounts and artefacts relative to the phenomena under study do not come from the mathematical methods which are the basis of quantitative research. Among the most relevant of these methods are interviews, focus groups, observational studies, content analysis, and data collection.
Learn more about the instructor Prof Erik Barendsen.
Ethics & Reflexivity with Dr Sarah Honeychurch, University of Glasgow (UK)
Session description:
This interactive session will introduce the main ethical areas that need to be considered when designing educational research projects: such as informed consent, confidentiality and anonymity, risk, power dynamics and perceived coercion, and secure data management. After an introduction to each of these concepts, participants will be presented with a range of scenarios and given the opportunity to investigate each of these in collaboration with their peers in order to ascertain the main ethical issues and devise strategies to resolve or mitigate against them.
About the instructor:
Sarah Honeychurch is a Good Practice Adviser at the University of Glasgow. She has a background in Philosophy and a PhD in Education. Sarah co-chairs the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Ethics Committee at her institution and led on the design and implementation of the application and review processes needed to establish this interdisciplinary committee. She also co-leads the SoTL Network where she provides support and guidance about ethical research and scholarship to colleagues across the institution to help them to successfully progress their educational research.
Learn more about Dr Sarah Honeychurch.
Participatory & Design Approaches with Dr Nathalie Tasler, University of Glasgow (UK)
Learn more about the instructor Dr Nathalie Tasler.
Student Self-Presentations
Participants are invited to give a short self-presentation (approximately 3 minutes), introducing their background and research interests. This session aims to foster connections and provide an overview of the cohort’s research directions.
Poster Session and Structured Poster Discussions
Session description:
Participants will submit a poster describing their current research, which may relate to their PhD or other ongoing work. The Scientific Committee evaluates submissions, and accepted posters are presented during dedicated sessions. Structured discussions, facilitated by members of the Scientific Committee, will take place on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. These sessions are designed to provide constructive feedback and encourage peer exchange.
Posters should typically include
- a clear description of the research problem;
- motivation and research questions;
- research methods used or proposed;
- an outline of the research plan (optionally including alternatives);
- current progress and any preliminary findings.
IBM Invited Presentation
More information will follow.
Why SCHIER?
As Europe’s only summer school focused on Informatics Education Research—a field recognised by the EU Council as vital—SCHIER offers a unique experience. Read our initiative statement, testimonials, and FAQs here.
Registration
SCHIER 2026 targets PhD students, Post-docs and any researcher interested in Informatics Education Research. Participants from IE member institutes benefit from reduced registration fees. The Summer School will take place in person only, with limited spots available.
Registration Fee*
- Participants from IE member institutes: GBP 225 (around EUR 260)
- Other participants: GBP 270 (around EUR 310)
*Note: Registration fees must be paid in GBP. The EUR amounts shown above are for reference only, and participants are responsible for any payment processing fees.
What is included in the SCHIER 2026 registration fee:
- Participation in all SCHIER 2026 academic sessions and activities during the 5-day program;
- Handouts and other relevant teaching materials;
- Coffee breaks and meals according to the schedule (lunch from Monday to Friday, all coffee breaks, reception on Tuesday, social dinner on Wednesday).
Not included: travel, local transport, accommodation and other personal expenses.
Application Process
To apply for SCHIER 2026, participants are required to complete the application here with the following in one PDF document:
- Motivation letter: a written statement of motivation in English (max. 1 page).
- Curriculum vitae: max. 2 pages.
Applications will be reviewed by the SCHIER Scientific Committee (considering your relevant achievements and motivation) on a first-come-first-serve basis. Allocation of places (if positively reviewed) will take place in this order.
Applications not conforming to the above rules will be rejected without consideration and notification.
Confirmation of Admission
Around two weeks after your application submission, you will receive notification of your SCHIER 2026 final admission status, sent from our official email address:
Note: SCHIER2026 will take place only if the minimum number of participants is met. Confirmation of SCHIER 2026 will be sent to all registered participants by 29 June 2026 at the latest. We strongly recommend booking refundable or flexible travel/accommodation options to avoid potential issues.
Request for Visa Support Letters
Please note that, as a SCHIER participant, it will be your responsibility to ensure that you have the valid travel documents required to enter the UK for the duration of SCHIER 2026 (and possible additional travel days before and after the program). For any questions concerning access to UK, please consult the website: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
Admitted SCHIER participants may request a support letter for visa application purposes during registration, if needed. Please allow up to 10 working days for processing. The SCHIER Organising Committee will not directly contact embassies and consulates on behalf of visa applicants.
Accommodations
Please note that accommodation is not included in the SCHIER registration fee.
A list of hotels near the Summer School venue will follow.
SCHIER 2026 Scientific Committee
Formed by members of the IE Education Research Working Group
- Enrico Nardelli, Università di Roma "Tor Vergata", Italy (Chair)
- Maria Kallia, University of Glasgow, UK
- Violetta Lonati, Università di Milano, Italy
- Jan Vahrenhold, University of Münster, Germany
SCHIER 2026 Organising Committee
- Oana Andrei, University of Glasgow, UK
- Matthew Barr, University of Glasgow, UK
- Maria Kallia, University of Glasgow, UK
- Nuria Auguera, Informatics Europe Office
- Kit Wan Chui, Informatics Europe Office
Contact Us
SCHIER 2026 is co-organised by the IE Education Research Working Group and University of Glasgow, with sponsorship from IBM Research Europe.
For enquiries, please email
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