1st ISCAR East Asia Conference

Call for Papers: The 1st ISCAR East Asia Conference

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Cultural-Historical Activity Research in East Asia: Activity, Learning, Agency, and Social Transformation Across Boundaries

February 27–28, 2027
Kansai University, Umeda Campus, Osaka, Japan

The newly established East Asia Regional Section of the International Society for Cultural-Historical Activity Research (ISCAR) is pleased to announce the Call for Papers for the 1st ISCAR East Asia Conference, to be held at Kansai University, Umeda Campus, Osaka, Japan, on February 27–28, 2027.

As the first conference of the Regional Section, the conference aims to create a forum for scholarly exchange across countries, regions, institutions, research traditions, and theoretical perspectives. It is grounded in cultural-historical activity research and seeks to foster dialogue across diverse theoretical, methodological, and interdisciplinary perspectives concerned with activity, learning, agency, and social transformation.

Contributions are particularly welcome on themes including activity, learning, agency, educational and organizational change, formative intervention, expansive learning, Change Laboratory, community and societal transformation, language, identity, culture, power, inclusion, equity, and related areas.

Organizing Committee

  • Professor Jianzhong Hong, Central China Normal University, China
  • Associate Professor Dosun Ko, Santa Clara University, USA
  • Professor Sangok Park, Kongju National University, South Korea
  • Professor Mitsuyo Sakamoto, Sophia University, Japan
  • Professor Norio Tokumaru, Kansai University, Japan
  • Professor Katsuhiro Yamazumi, Kansai University, Japan — Conference Chair

The conference will be held primarily on site at Kansai University.

Proposals are invited for:

  • Individual Paper Presentations: abstract of up to 500 words; 30 minutes including discussion
  • Symposium: three or four thematically connected presentations; an overall abstract of up to 500 words and approximately 250–300 words for each presentation; 90 minutes

Symposium that promote dialogue across countries, regions, institutions, or research traditions are especially welcome.

The first day will also include a special hybrid keynote session, open to online participants from around the world, featuring the following keynote speakers:

  • Professor Jianzhong Hong, Central China Normal University, China
  • Professor Sangok Park, Kongju National University, South Korea
  • Professor Mitsuyo Sakamoto, Sophia University, Japan
  • Associate Professor Dosun Ko, Santa Clara University, USA

Professor Annalisa Sannino, President of ISCAR, will offer opening remarks and concluding comments, and Professor Emeritus Yrjö Engeström will join the session as a commentator. Both will participate online from Finland.

Proposal submission deadline: November 30, 2026
Notification of acceptance and registration opens: December 22, 2026
Final registration deadline for presenters and participants: January 31, 2027

Proposals should be submitted in English as a Word attachment to:

kyamazum@kansai-u.ac.jp

The Word file should include:

  • title
  • author name(s)
  • institutional affiliation(s)
  • email address of the corresponding author
  • 3–5 keywords

For an Individual Paper, please include an abstract of up to 500 words.

For a Symposium, please include:

  • an overall symposium abstract of up to 500 words
  • a brief abstract of approximately 250–300 words for each presentation
  • the names and affiliations of the symposium organizer/chair and all presenters
  • A discussant may be included but is not required.

Please use the following email subject line according to the type of proposal:

  • Individual Paper: ISCAR East Asia 2027 – Individual Paper Submission
  • Symposium: ISCAR East Asia 2027 – Symposium Submission

On-site registration fees are JPY 8,000 for regular participants and JPY 6,000 for graduate students. The registration fee includes two lunches and coffee breaks during the two-day conference.

Online participation in the hybrid keynote session is free of charge.

Detailed information on registration procedures will be announced separately when registration opens on December 22, 2026.

An optional Conference Dinner will be held on February 27. Participation in the dinner is separate from conference registration.

We warmly welcome colleagues from East Asia and from the wider international community and hope that this first conference will provide an opportunity to develop new conversations and collaborations across boundaries.

Full Call for Papers: PDF

Contact

Katsuhiro Yamazumi, PhD
Professor of Education, Kansai University
Conference Chair, The 1st ISCAR East Asia Conference
Interim Regional Coordinator, ISCAR East Asia Regional Section
kyamazum@kansai-u.ac.jp

 

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