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GELYDA Update Letter - December 2024

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Dear Colleagues and Friends of GELYDA,

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As we approach the end of 2024 and celebrate the one-year anniversary of GELYDA’s inception, I am thrilled to share some year-end updates and preview our exciting plans for 2025. I am writing to you on behalf of our active Steering Committee, composed of ten members from all corners of the world, representing every continent except Antarctica.

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2024 Highlights

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Since launching GELYDA in September 2023, we have achieved several milestones that highlight our progress and growth as an association:

  • Website Launch: Our official website (www.gelyda.org) is now fully functional and serves as a hub for resources, updates, and engagement. We encourage you to explore its features, share your feedback, and let us know what additional tools or information would be valuable to you by contacting us at gelyda.association@outlook.com.

  • Global Participation: GELYDA has actively participated in international conferences held in Germany and Australia, where we shared insights on extended learning and engaged with global experts in the field.

  • Virtual Symposium Success: We hosted our inaugural virtual symposium featuring Andreas Schleicher, director of PISA at the OECD, as the keynote speaker. The event attracted well over 100 registrants from around the world, marking an inspiring start to our global conversations.

  • Expert Contributions: Throughout the year, we published regular blog posts authored by respected leaders in the field of extended learning. These contributions have provided valuable insights and can spark discussions within our community.

  • Upcoming Conference Planning: We are excited to be preparing for GELYDA’s first in-person conference, The Science and Practice of Extended Learning, Youth Development, and Wellbeing. This significant event hosted by the University of Iceland under the direction of Dr. Kolbrún Þorbjörg Pálsdóttir (Steering Committee Member & and Dean of the School of Education) will take place in Reykjavik Iceland from June 11–13, 2025 and will feature hybrid components to ensure accessibility. The program will include serious work, socializing and getting to know this amazing country.  Don’t miss this opportunity.  The call for abstracts is open until January 31, 2025, and we encourage you to submit your ideas or learn more at https://gelyda2025.hi.is. Any research, policy report, practice example is welcome. You can propose a discussion, join with your work colleagues from your country, or just present individually.  We are open to innovative ways of communicating ideas.

  • Membership Growth: Our international membership has continued to expand, connecting a diverse group of professionals passionate about extended learning and youth development. Please help us bring more voices to the conversation by sharing information about membership with your colleagues and following us on social media. You can find more details at https://www.gelyda.org/membership.

  • Advisory Board Formation: This December, we established our first Advisory Board, bringing together experts from across the globe specializing in policy, research, and practice. We look forward to leveraging their guidance and expertise to further GELYDA’s mission in 2025 and beyond. 

 

Looking Ahead to 2025

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As we enter the new year, we are excited to launch several key initiatives that will further strengthen our association and global impact:

  • Biannual Publication: In April 2025, we will debut Extensions, our biannual publication dedicated to exploring critical themes and research in extended learning, youth development, and wellbeing.

  • Webinar Series: To facilitate ongoing learning and engagement, we will host an online webinar series that will delve into pressing issues and innovative practices within extended education and youth development.  We will begin our series with a webinar I will prepare on the topic of the role of extended learning as a contributing force in stemming the worldwide mental health crisis of children and youth.

  • Expanded Blog Contributions: We plan to broaden the range of expert voices featured in our blog series, offering a global perspective on cutting-edge research, policies, and practices in the field.

  • In-Person Conference: GELYDA’s first in-person conference in Reykjavik, Iceland, will be a milestone event, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to exchange ideas and advance the science and practice of extended learning.

  • Membership Engagement: To ensure we remain responsive to the needs of our members, we will be launching a membership survey early in the new year. Your input will play a crucial role in shaping our priorities and initiatives.

  • Strategic Planning with the Advisory Board: With the support of our newly established Advisory Board, we will be devising strategies to guide GELYDA’s second year and ensure our long-term success in advancing extended learning globally.

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Share Your Ideas and Insights

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I would love to hear from you to ensure we are responsive to your needs and the needs of your constituencies. Please consider contributing a blog post to share your unique perspective or commenting on an existing blog on our website. Your voice can make a significant difference in shaping the global conversation around extended learning and youth development.

And don’t forget to contribute your ideas for our upcoming Iceland conference—GELYDA’s first in-person event! Contacting us with your ideas at gelyda.association@outlook.com.

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Thank you for your continued dedication and support of GELYDA. We look forward to sharing more updates in January 2025. Until then, we wish you a joyous holiday season and a wonderful New Year wherever you are in the world.

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Warm regards,

 

Gil G. Noam, GELYDA Chair

 

And founding members of the Steering Committee of GELYDA

 

SangHoon Bae, Professor at the Department of Education and Provost in the Sungkyunkwan University

 

Dale Blyth, Professor Emeritus and former Howland Endowed Chair in Youth Development Leadership

 

Kylie Brannelly, Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Children’s Activities Network (QCAN) and Chairperson of the National Outside School Hours Services Alliance (NOSHSA)

 

Marlene Gras, Founder and Director of TierraED, Mexico City

 

Fuyuko Kanefuji, Professor at the Department of Human Sciences and Director of the Institute of Living Sciences, Bunkyo University

 

Linda Khanyi, Manager and Content Advisor at the Parliament of South Africa (National Council of Provinces)

 

Stephan Kielblock, Postdoctoral Researcher at Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg (Germany)

 

Kolbrún Þorbjörg Pálsdóttir, Dean of the School of Education at the University of Iceland, Reykjavik


Ludwig Stecher, Professor at the University of Giessen

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