Our research project on youth activism and global citizenship education was prominently featured at the 2025 Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) conference held in Chicago from March 21-26. Team members from across our international partnership presented compelling findings from the STUDACT project across multiple countries.

The conference showcased our project’s diverse research strands, with presentations on the political efficacy of youth activists through photovoice methods, comparative analysis of rural and urban student engagement in global campaigns in Italy, young people’s views on teaching controversial global issues in England, and many more. These presentations generated enthusiastic responses and valuable feedback from international colleagues, enhancing our multi-country perspective.

Dr. Miri Yemini’s leadership as chair of the dedicated session “Investigating the empowerment of youth activists” on March 26 was a particular milestone for our project. The session featured an important presentation from STUDACT project participants and collaborators. The session created a focused space for examining methodologies and frameworks for understanding youth agency in global activism, exploring how schools can serve as catalysts for transformative learning and progressive social change.

The vibrant discussions and networking opportunities throughout the conference have already led to potential new partnerships and research directions, strengthening our project’s impact and reach in the field of youth activism studies.