Pravin Balakrishnan

If there’s one conference I’ve been waiting to present, it’s the @civicsoftech.bsky.social Conference. Today, I’m both nervous and excited to share my work:

‼️ Resisting Creatively: A Card-Based Futures Workshop with Teacher Communities!

Let’s see what futures we can (re)imagine!

Reflections from the fieldwork: What is education? As I wrap up the first week of my fieldwork in Malaysia, I reflect on what is education in today's world - trying to think from the lens of a gardener.

Wrapping up the 1st week of my fieldwork in Malaysia, I reflect on what is education in today's world, thinking as a gardener!

"The time-honored processes of teaching and learning, which once took root and matured over seasons, now face pressure to produce results instantly."

shorturl.at/rkdhi

Universities in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union thought giving in to government demands would save their independence Before the Nazis, German universities were among the best in the world. Step by step, the universities gave up their independence until they were instruments of the state.

Universities in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union thought that complying with authoritarian demands would protect their independence. It didn’t—and history is warning us again.
🔗 theconversation.com/universities...

#AcademicFreedom #HigherEd #Authoritarianism #DEI #TheConversation

Universities in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union thought giving in to government demands would save their independence Before the Nazis, German universities were among the best in the world. Step by step, the universities gave up their independence until they were instruments of the state.

shorturl.at/VIgS0

A must read article by @isilova.bsky.social!

"When universities start regulating not just what they say but what they teach, support and stand for – driven by fear rather than principle – they are no longer just reacting to political threats, they are internalizing them."

Education is powerful.

The same education that craft narratives to colonize minds by designating humans into hierarchies of superiority and inferiority, has the potential to unravel the shackles of imposed identities.

Education is a delicate dance of knowledge & power.

New book chapter out on Educational Cooperation in an Era of Deglobalization with tavis jules, Aleta Garrett and Abigail Smith!

The chapter explored reimagining educational cooperation in the Caribbean and I provided input on the theoretical aspects for this chapter!

9. Overall, serving as the communications chair has really enabled me to expand my thinking on how to better the serve the CIE community. I've learned and grown so much from this experience. Thanks everyone!

Now, it is time to say goodbye and wishing the best for the new chairs!

8. When I first took over the SIG as the Comms chair, we had around 100+ followers on X, now we have around 550+. The number could be much greater if not for the exodus of academics.

We're the only SIG from CIES at BlueSky! And also on LinkedIn!

7. In the 2024 edition, I put together the 2024 Programme Booklet for GESIG! And I am glad Helen Seitzer continued the tradition for 2025!

6. Organizing the first INECS Conferences under the GESIG banner. I had the pleasure to put this together but did not see to the end of it because my father died. Ultimately, thanks to the GESIG team for taking over! @helenseitzer.bsky.social @santosiris.bsky.social @simonaszakbehl.bsky.social

5. We covered other education conferences, such as BAICE, ECER, and CESE! It was a delightful surprise when Toni Verger acknowledged my work at ECER!

4. Curated the 5 Key Takeaways which received some good attention, but sadly I could not continue this in a more sustainable manner, but the pilot that we did was a success and gained a lot of traction!

3. We brought back the Newsletters in a more consistent manner, although I sometimes failed to deliver on time, but the newsletter became the heartbeat of the SIG.

2. The second one was paying homage to our Former GESIG Officers. I felt really happy putting this together to ensure there was a sense of history, simultaneously a sense of continuity of the SIG:

1. The first thing we did was revamp the website and put things in sequence. We gave a new look to it, adding a sense of professionalism.

After 2 years serving as the Communications Chair at @gesigcies.bsky.social, it is finally time to say goodbye! I learned so much from this opportunity and quite happy with how we did! Here are some milestones I will hold close to my heart as someone who worked behind in the shadows:

Growing up here in Buntong, we had very little, but I know my parents did everything that they could so we could uplift ourselves from poverty and the streets.

The days of unknowingly running drugs as kids, scavenging from garbage, and doing odd jobs, it all feels like a dream.

Past 2 weeks have been very tough, particularly with my father's death on 26 Feb. Even contemplated to drop out of the PhD. Thanks for all supportive messages, though none I've replied.

But then, here comes this email, reminding me that I still have a purpose to fulfil.

In what should have been the most intellectually stimulating time of my life, this PhD journey has become the most painful.

Loss after loss—my cousin, my niece, my aunt, my brother, and now my father—has left me drowning in grief.

I've lost my interest, my spirit, and my light.

Organizing my first ever online conference, please consider registering for the conference!

Very happy to have joined the Bristol edition of the Critical Studies of Education and Technology (CSET)!

Loads of generative discussions and things to think about. I like the fact EdTech wasn't immediately discarded as 'evil', rather how can we envision an EdTech for good!

Academic Acrobatics and Scholarly Shadows: Weaving reflections from CESE 2024 In the summer of 2024, I participated in the CESE 2024 conference in Thessaloniki and was immediately fascinated by the community and the generative discussions. Attending my first CESE conference …

In 2024, I attended three physical conferences: CESE, ECER, & BAICE. These spaces and the experiences shaped me—not just as an emerging scholar, but as a person.

Read my 1st reflection from CESE titled 'Academic Acrobatics & Scholarly Shadows'

Link: shorturl.at/Prl8M

If you know any ECRs who would benefit from this event, please share this with them!

This webinar is open for all!

SHE'S THE BEST!

I definitely see Pritha Dahal there!

Students from Belgrade now marching to Novi Sad (about 100 kilometers by foot), where they will arrive before February 1, to mark the three-month anniversary of the canopy collapse.

#students #serbia

🚨Major Announcement! Pls circulate!

📢 Calling all early career scholars (also MA & PhD)! Submit your 300-word abstract for The Globalization & Education Online Conference 2025! 🌍💡

📝 Abstract Deadline: Jan 18, 2025
🔗 Submit here: forms.office.com/e/npe9pTB7au
Conference Date: 4th of March 2025

Is this event open for students outside of Bristol/South West UK?

Got a signed copy of this amazing book from @madianou.bsky.social! With the current age we are in, this is a must read for everyone doing work in tech!

Towards Ustopia - NORRAG - In this blogpost, Pravin Balakrishnan, drawing on Margaret Atwood’s notion of Ustopia, argues that grassroot movements offer rich and insightful alternatives to the utopian visions promoted by interna...

Thanks to NORRAG for publishing my latest blog!

Drawing on Margaret Atwood’s notion of Ustopia, I argue that grassroot movements offer rich and insightful alternatives to the utopian visions promoted by IOs!

Big thanks to Maren Elfert for making this happen!

www.norrag.org/towards-usto...