Pinto-Alvarez Presents at British Education Research Association Conference
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Community health education doctoral candidate Mariana Pinto-Alvarez presented her research in an oral session at the British Education Research Association Conference & World Education Research Association Focal Meeting held at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom on September 8-12, 2024.
Pinto-Alvarez, who works under the mentorship of Daniel López-Cevallos, presented their study titled The “Best Interest of the Child”: Examining Protections for Migrant Children’s Wellbeing in Ecuador’s Public Schools. The study explored the inclusion of migrants in Ecuador's school system as a fundamental tenet of protecting their health and well-being. The researchers conducted a thematic analysis of 13 policy documents, 12 national laws and international agreements, and 31 key informant interviews, applying a human rights lens. They found that, although the 2008 Ecuadorian Constitution and migration laws protect the right of migrants to health and education, the key informants argued that the laws are poorly implemented. Furthermore, they agree that the health sector generally does not consider education as a relevant setting for health. In contrast, the public education sector and non-profit organizations at the national and local levels appear to recognize the importance of coordination across the health and education sectors, including school-based initiatives for migrant inclusion.
The British Educational Research Association (BERA) is the leading authority on educational research in the UK, supporting and representing the community of scholars, practitioners and everyone engaged in and with educational research both nationally and internationally. Founded in 1974, BERA has since expanded into an internationally renowned association. The 2024 conference celebrated the organization's 50th anniversary.