Toward the futures of educational research with hope

Abstract

At beginning of UNESCO's (2021) enlightening report, it is clearly stated that " [o]ur world is at a turning point" (p. 1). This assertion could not be more accurate when people worldwide have suffered and are gradually recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic; when people across the planet are experiencing various natural or man-made challenges or disasters such as climate transformation, the Russo-Ukrainian War, and the discharge of radioactive water in Japan; when the entire human population faces the excitement and uncertainty brought about by the new technologies including generative artificial intelligence, genetic modification, and human augmentation, etc. As of September 2023, it appears that we find ourselves navigating a sea of chaos and complexity. No one can predict with certainty where our journey will lead in the future.However, education is undoubtedly a pathway to the future. As UNESCO (2021) pointed out, "[w]e already know that knowledge and learning are the basis for renewal and transformation" (p. 1). Education signifies our commitment to nurturing the growth of young generations who are the future heroes. Education is not value-free; it embodies hope. As educators, we aspire to form education as a common good worthy of our trust and dedication. Through education, we collectively shape the future. This is why educational research today is indispensable and of utmost importance. At this turning point, "[n]o trend is destiny" (UNESCO, 2021, p. 3). The future is plural. We need to identify the possible futures of education in particular and the world in general. We need to justify which futures are worthwhile, supported by adequate evidence. We need to imagine alternative futures for education and the world when people strive for a better one. Educational research allows us "to think differently about learning and the relationships between students, teachers, knowledge, and the world" (UNESCO, 2021, p. 3).Against this background, Future in Educational Research (FER) has been developed by Southwest University, a leading institution in education in China, with the assistance of Wiley, a cutting-edge academic publisher in the world. As a future-oriented, multi-disciplinary, international journal, FER encompasses a wide range of education-related issues and trends. Original articles that advance empirical, theoretical, and methodological understandings of education, teaching, and learning are welcome. FER invites innovative perspectives on the new policies, technologies, and theories across different levels of education. Interdisciplinary dialogs and multidisciplinary works aiming at shaping the sustainable development of education are cordially welcome. We hold great respect for all serious discussions about the future of education and educational research, because we believe that "[m]ultiple alternative futures are possible" (UNESCO, 2021, p. 3). The launch of FER indicates our hope and attempt to call upon scholars across countries and continents to imagine and shape the futures of education and educ...