The Department of Education and Psychology at the University of Aveiro (UA) is promoting the XI Symposium on School Organization and Management, under the theme “Future of the School: political and organizational challenges”, which will be held at the UA on November 21 and 22, 2024.

The future of the school lies at the crossroads of multiple challenges. The growing diversity of students’ needs requires a flexible and inclusive approach. However, educational policies often suffer from ineffectiveness or the subversion of their intentions. Limited resources, bureaucracy and resistance to change can restrict schools’ ability to innovate and respond to emerging demands. In addition, technology is reconfiguring the role of the educator and influencing pedagogical and didactic dynamics, requiring a transformation in traditional teaching methods. The decentralization of educational power and enhanced community participation may be crucial to ensuring the relevance and purpose of school institutions in the future. In order to deal smoothly with this increasingly complex and challenging new scenario, close collaboration between governments at different levels, educational institutions and civil society is essential to address these challenges and forge a path towards a more resilient, adaptable and useful school system.

This Symposium, which will be held entirely in person, will provide a wide range of opportunities for researchers, academics, students, professionals from the education sector and others to share ideas, experiences, research results and reflections that will help clarify the shape of the future of the school.