The Early Career Researchers Special Interest Group Mission:
The mission of the proposed ECR SIG is to create a network of ECRs and allies in Health, Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy aimed at facilitating support, professional development and collaborative research interests. To support the mission of the ECR-SIG, it is proposed that the group be facilitated primarily by ECRs, for ECRs.
Purposes of the SIG
The primary purpose of the proposed ECR-SIG is to foster a support network for ECRs in the field of Health, Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy through facilitating networking, discussions and ongoing communications between and amongst ECRs both locally and on an international scale. Some of the proposed activities that will support this purpose include hosting an annual pre-conference ECR event at the AIESEP conference and hosting regular events for ECRs and those interested in supporting early career scholarship, such as online workshops for SIG members, professional development opportunities for ECRs, local/in-person small group meetings, and participating in AIESEP Connect events to highlight ECR research and offer insights into how the PETE community can support ECRs in the field.
An additional purpose of the SIG is to support and facilitate ECR research. Specific details on how this will be accomplished are outlined in greater detail in the ‘Research Focus of the New SIG’ section below. Further, it will be an aim of the SIG to facilitate projects that align with and help to fulfil AIESEP’s strategic plan, including, for example, contributing to AIESEP’s 25 by 25 initiative, aimed at increasing AIESEP membership by 25% by the end of 2025. This will be accomplished through inviting and encouraging ECRs in the field to not only participate in the AIESEP conference but also become AIESEP members. Increasing AIESEP membership and conference attendance amongst ECRs is critical for the future of both AIESEP and the field of Health, Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy.
Major Goals of the SIG
There are two overarching goals of the proposed ECR-SIG. First, in line with the rationale and purposes articulated above, a major goal of the proposed ECR-SIG is to facilitate a support network for ECRs in the field. This will include both professional and personal support. The primary activities of the ECR-SIG are designed to support this goal. For instance, networking activities that can connect ECRs globally while simultaneously fostering stronger local connections are designed to help combat the isolation ECRs can sometimes feel in their respective departments and institutions (Richards et al., 2017). Further, professional development opportunities (such as one-time events and ongoing learning communities on topics of similar interest) can offer both professional support in developing as an ECR and personal support in sharing insights into how to navigate the challenges associated with the early career stage (e.g. work-life balance, family considerations, etc.) (Patton & Parker, 2017).
A second major goal of the proposed ECR SIG is to facilitate and support research conducted by ECRs and/or about ECRS. Activities of the ECR-SIG that will help to support this goal will include, for example, facilitating reading and/or writing groups on topics of common interest; facilitating process groups (including multi-disciplinary and cross-country collaborations); and sharing/disseminating and drawing attention to ECR research through a regular ECR-SIG newsletter, an ECR-SIG social media account with regular updates, participation in AIESEP Connect events, an ECR symposium featuring research from ECRs as part of the AIESEP conference, and the (eventual) development of a podcast dedicated to sharing research for and/or by ECRs.
Research Focus of the New SIG
- Researcher and academic career preparation
- Induction processes and support
- Researcher identity
- Research culture for ECRs
- Self-study, critical friendship and practitioner methodologies
- ECR professional development and learning
- Experiences of early career scholarship (including doctoral and postdoctoral programs)
- Collaborative structures
- Socialization in early career scholarship
- Mentorship processes and experiences
Leadership responsibilities:
Chair, who leads the SIG and takes overarching responsibility for the SIG.
Stephanie Beni, sbeni@wlu.ca
Chair-Elect who is the Secretary and Communications Coordinator, who will lead on the communications to the members within the SIG. The Chair-Elect also stands in for the Chair as and when they are needed.
Carla Valerio, carla.valerio@scu.edu.au
Our social channels:
Visit our page in the AIESEP Member’s Corner for special updates on the SIG activities.
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aiesep-early-career-researchers-sig/