In the third edition of the Online Conference, spaces for debate and collaboration focused on the role of the educator in teaching literature to children, and the pleasure of reading within university spaces. The organising committee of the presentations was led by doctors Maria Pujol-Valls and Mariona Graell, university lecturers and researchers at UIC Barcelona.
“The conference was a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and best practices in teaching literature to children,” explained Mariona Graell. The organising committee also wanted to promote Barcelona as a literary “hub” of first order: “We have dynamic and inclusive public libraries in the city, as well as independent bookstores specialising in children’s literature and illustrated books,” said Maria Pujol-Valls.
At a time when educators, librarians, researchers, and policy makers are very interested in the effects of recreational reading on children, it is important to address whether teachers in training and other literary mediators are themselves avid readers. Research carried out in different countries, including Spain, has shown that active and trained teachers are not regular readers and do not usually emphasise the pleasure of reading when teaching students to read.
The Fostering Dialogue Conference has created new spaces for debate and collaboration on the teaching of children’s literature in the university environment.
Cultivating the global reach of UIC Barcelona, the conference welcomed participants from 16 different universities from all over the world. “We are excited to bring together educators, researchers and professionals from various fields, united by a common goal: to inspire the love of reading in younger generations,” said the rector of UIC Barcelona, Alfonso Méndiz.
The Dean of the Faculty of Education Sciences, Enric Vidal, closed the conference highlighting its multicultural approach. “Many speakers have emphasised the importance of representativeness in children’s literature, and this demonstrates the shared dedication to turning literature into a tool for social change.”
The opening of "Fostering Dialogues" was attended by key institutional figures, including Mercè Andreu Rosés, the Director of Innovation, Digitalization, and Curriculum from the Generalitat of Catalonia, and Jordi Puigneró, Deputy Mayor for Institutional Relations, Good Governance, and Digital City at the Sant Cugat City Council.
Mercè Andreu emphasized the key role of reading in children and young people’s development. "Children's literature helps them grow emotionally, recognize conflicts, identify themselves with characters, and solve real-life problems in a safe environment," she said. On the other hand, Jordi Puigneró highlighted: "The educational ambition of a city like Sant Cugat del Vallès, home to the Faculty of Education Sciences, which celebrates creativity as a vital tool for social transformation, is a value that is perfectly aligned with the objectives of this Congress”.
