A joint paper presented between academics from the University of Malta and Nord

Dr Josephine Deguara, from the Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education, Faculty of Education, University of Malta, together with Prof. Anne Grethe Baustad from Nord University, Bodø, Norway, presented a paper at the 33rd European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) Conference, held in Bratislava, Slovakia between the 25th – 28th August, 2025. The paper reported on findings from the study, “Young Eyes on the Sea: Maltese and Norwegian Children’s Drawings of the Sea”, funded by the Research Networking Scheme (RNS), Xjenza Malta. The study explored how children living in coastal communities in Malta and Norway perceive and experience the sea through their drawings.

Dr Deguara was also the chairperson of the symposium entitled “Community based arts education in ECE” which featured two other presentations. Ms Eda Sevinç Özgen, from Middle East Technical University, Türkiye, presented findings from a study on “Culturally Responsive Pedagogy in Teacher Education: Assessing Teacher Candidates’ Preparedness”. Ms Stefanie Williams, from the Arts Council, England, shared insights from four studies, “Exploring the themes from four pieces of Arts Council England Funded Research into Arts and Creativity in the Early Years, focused on the Creative Lives of Young Children, Families and Arts Professionals”.