Erasmus+ mobility: three PhD candidates attended the Participatory Action Research Summer Camp in Austria

PhD candidates Monika Martens, Aline Semaan and Jil Molenaar attended the Action Research Summer School in Austria. Four online preparatory meetings were followed by a one-week in-person summer camp, organised by the Bertha von Suttner Private University and hosted just outside of Innsbruck at the Waldhüttl, a community project for Roma people.

The summer school was somewhat unconventional, not just in terms of its location, but also in terms of focus and didactic style. The course aimed to promote participatory and community-based forms of knowledge-building. The course organisers encouraged participants to shift their thinking on why and how we do research, and how we might ensure our research drives social change, incorporating elements of activism and community work.

In practice, this resulted in a strong focus on participants’ personal development through activities such as journalling, an alternative tour of Innsbruck showcasing different social initiatives, and theater-based group assignments.

When looking back at the Summer camp, Monika, Aline and Jil say: "Participating in the Action Research Summer Camp exposed us to alternative approaches to working, teaching and doing research, and brought to light valuable lessons on bridging between academia and communities." For more info, see the course web page and the Waldhüttl website, or reach out to Monika (mmartens@itg.be), Aline (asemaan@itg.be) or Jil (jmolenaar@itg.be).