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Artificial intelligence in classrooms, the risk of teachers leaving the profession, educational inequalities, and the inclusion of children with diverse needs: the 34th Annual Conference of the Czech Educational Research Association will explore some of the most pressing issues facing Czech education today. Entitled Research and Innovation: Education for All in the 21st Century, this year’s conference will be hosted by the Faculty of Education at the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň from Tuesday, 8 to Thursday, 10 September.

Over the course of three days, dozens of research projects examining changes in schools, the teaching profession, and teaching itself will be presented. A significant part of the program will explore how artificial intelligence is entering education and what its growing use means for teachers and students. Individual presentations will focus, for example, on the use of an AI assistant at lower secondary school, a comparison of AI-generated teaching materials with traditional instruction, and the potential of AI to support personalized learning. Researchers will also examine whether attitudes towards technology and the quality of teacher–pupil relationships are linked to the belief that artificial intelligence could replace teachers. The program will also include the experience of a gifted pupil who has used ChatGPT over an extended period.

However, this year’s program will not be limited to technology. It will also focus on the conditions in which teachers work. One study will examine the factors that increase the risk of teachers leaving the profession, while another will present the teaching profession through the lens of the international TALIS 2024 survey. Other topics will include professional development, initial teacher education, support for early-career teachers, and cooperation between schools, universities, and local education authorities.

The conference will also address inclusive education. Presentations will explore the experiences of Ukrainian pupils in Czech schools, support for the psychological needs of Roma children, education for students with severe and multiple disabilities, and teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion. Other topics will include delayed school entry, children’s transition from nursery to primary school, and the promotion of a positive classroom climate.

The conference is held under the auspices of Jiří Kohout, Vice-Rector of the University of West Bohemia, and Pavel Mentlík, Dean of the Faculty of Education. The full program is available on the conference website.