NOREQ-ECEC Online Conference for Early Career Researchers
The Nordic Research Network for Evidence-Based (NOREQ), High-Quality Preschool for Social Justice invites PhD students and researchers who have completed their PhD within the last four years to an online conference on quality in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Join us for research presentations, discussions, and networking with fellow early-career
researchers across the Nordic countries.
Date: Friday, November 27, 2026
Time: 09:00 - 12:00 (Swedish time)
Place: Online via Zoom
Featured presentations
Roosa Segersvärd (University of Helsinki)
Important and Meaningful Elements for Young Children with Profound Intellectual and
Multiple Disabilities in ECEC
This presentation is based on Roosa Segersvärd dissertation, which explores what is meaningful and important to young children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) in early childhood special education and more broadly in their life. At present, knowledge about children with PIMD is largely rooted in medical perspectives, focusing primarily on their diagnoses and limitations. However, this tells very little about their identities – who they are and what they find meaningful in life.
The research data were collected in collaboration with the children’s guardians and professionals working closely with the children. The data consisted of proxy interviews with guardians and professionals, as well as photographs and video material collected by them, and participatory video observations conducted by the researcher. Drawing on research findings, this presentation introduces methodological and pedagogical practices for making children’s voices heard and identify factors meaningful to them.
Roosa Segersvärd - researchportal
Maria Papakosma (Umeå University)
The Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Swedish Preschool: Unravelling
Conceptualisations and Policy Processes
This presentation draws on findings from Maria Papakosma doctoral thesis, which examines how cultural and linguistic diversity is conceptualised in Swedish early childhood education and care (ECEC) policy and how these understandings are shaped through policy processes. The empirical material consists of qualitative semi-structured interviews with national policy actors and preschool principals and an analysis of policy documents at national and local levels.
The study highlights how multilingualism and diversity are framed within contemporary preschool education and demonstrates how Swedish ECEC policy has expanded preschool’s role beyond care to encompass school readiness, integration and the prevention of broader societal challenges. The presentation discusses the implications of these policy processes for equity and participation in increasingly diverse early childhood settings.
Maria Papakosma - profile page
Monika Klamola (University of Stavanger)
Quality in Play with Coding Toys: Early Childhood Teachers’ Role in Supporting Children’s Mathematical Learning and Computational Thinking
With growing interest in coding toys in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), there is a need to understand what characterizes high-quality pedagogical practices when these technologies are integrated into children’s play. This presentation draws on findings from a PhD project examining how experienced ECEC teachers support children’s mathematical learning, including problem solving and computational thinking, during play with coding toys.
The findings highlight a child-centered approach characterized by responsiveness, shared exploration, and support for children’s agency. High-quality practice involved balancing proximal support, such as questioning, modelling, and feedback, with more distal strategies, including observation, introducing resources, and allowing productive struggle. Through guided play and intentional scaffolding, teachers integrated mathematical and computational ideas while maintaining the play frame. The findings emphasize teachers’ professional judgment in deciding when to intervene, when to follow children’s initiatives, and how to create meaningful learning opportunities through play with coding toys.
Programme Highlights
Research presentations and discussions.
Breakout groups on future collaboration and research networking.
Registration
Register by Sunday, 1 November 2026
Registration link: https://link.webropolsurveys.com/EP/B888CFE66F62475A
A Zoom link and a calendar invitation will be sent after registration.
More information:
NOREQ-ECEC Conference, 26 November 2026.
Contact
Questions: Lassi Lavanti. E-post: lassi.s.lavanti@jyu.fi
Last updated: 2026-09-23
Source: Department of Child and Youth Studies