ICSEI is a forum for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners around the world to exchange knowledge. This conference builds on what has been presented in previous conferences by shifting the focus to the purpose of education and the new and emerging possibilities for transforming schools

Welcome to Banff, Canada

Dear colleagues, friends, and members of the ICSEI community,

It is with great excitement that we welcome you to Banff, Canada, for the 40th International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI 2027), taking place from January 4–8, 2027.

ICSEI 2027 will bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world under the theme “Be Well, Learn Well: Strengthening Belonging, Wellbeing, and Academic Growth.” This theme reflects a growing recognition that meaningful learning and lasting school improvement are closely connected to the wellbeing and sense of belonging experienced by both students and educators. Across education systems internationally, schools and communities are working to strengthen the social and relational conditions that support learning, while also responding to complex challenges related to equity, mental health, and the evolving nature of teaching and leadership.

The 2027 Congress will provide a space to explore how these dimensions come together in practice. Through research presentations, practitioner dialogues, policy discussions, and collaborative learning opportunities, ICSEI 2027 will highlight work that deepens our understanding of how belonging, wellbeing, and academic growth can be supported together. Participants will engage with diverse perspectives and international experiences, examining how schools and education systems can foster environments where both learners and educators can thrive.

Hosting ICSEI in Banff offers a unique setting for this conversation. Located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies within Banff National Park, the town of Banff is known for its extraordinary natural beauty, vibrant community, and longstanding tradition as a place for dialogue, reflection, and learning. Surrounded by mountains, forests, and open landscapes, Banff invites visitors to slow down, reconnect with one another, and engage deeply with new ideas.

The congress program will combine ICSEI’s longstanding traditions of rigorous scholarship and meaningful exchange with opportunities for connection and reflection inspired by the setting. Alongside research sessions and network activities, participants will have opportunities to engage in dialogue sessions, collaborative discussions, and social events that celebrate the global ICSEI community while highlighting the distinctive culture and landscape of Canada.

We look forward to welcoming you to Banff for ICSEI 2027 as we come together to learn from one another, strengthen our shared commitments, and explore how belonging, wellbeing, and academic growth can shape the future of education worldwide.

Warm regards,

Dr. Sharon Friesen & Dr. Stephen MacGregor

Co-Chairs, ICSEI 2027, Banff, Canada

Be Well, Learn Well: Strengthening Belonging, Wellbeing, and Academic Growth

Please note: The congress is a fully face-to-face event; online participation is not available.

Congress sub-themes include:

• From Evidence to Action: Translating Research into Practice: how research, theory, and data can inform decision-making in classrooms, schools, and systems, including strategies for knowledge mobilization and implementation.
• Leadership and System Conditions for Belonging and Wellbeing: leadership practices, governance arrangements, policy environments, and system coordination that enable schools to promote belonging while supporting improvement in teaching and learning.
• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigenous Perspectives: how schools and systems can foster inclusive, culturally responsive, and historically and structurally equitable environments. Work that centers Indigenous perspectives and partnerships with community is especially encouraged.
• Whole-Child Development and Integrated Approaches to Learning: integrated approaches to learning and development, including interdisciplinary initiatives and classroom practices that connect wellbeing with academic learning.
• Brain, Body, and Learning: how emotional wellbeing, physical health, relationships, and learning environments interact to influence how students learn and participate in school.
• Student Voice, Agency, and Participation: how student voice and agency contribute to school improvement, more responsive educational design, and stronger experiences of belonging among learners.
• Learning Beyond the Classroom: Community, Activities, and School Life: extracurricular activities, community partnerships, experiential learning, outdoor and place-based education, and other experiences that support engagement and flourishing.