Between 22-24 Nov 2023, Education scholars from the Southern hemisphere gathered in Singapore at the ERAS-WERA 2023 Conference to discuss how the context and cultural perspectives of education research that originated in the Southern Hemisphere could have significance for global discourses in education. Discussions focused on pathways to position knowledge from the Southern hemisphere in conversation with, often dominant, education knowledge from the Northern hemisphere. Given the changes in geopolitics and the questions that are raised to sustain development towards quality education, the symposium envisioned creating a space of dialogue where ideas were shared on what is known and imagined, as well as the 'lessons learned' to systematically include frequently under-represented world-wide knowledge. The symposium took the form of a lively discussion among panelists. Some of the presenters and attendees included Prof Caroline Mansfield (Edith Cowan University), Prof Elize du Plessis (University of South Africa), Prof Joy-Telu Hamilton-Ekeke (Niger Delta University), Dr. Diloshi Govender (University of Kwazulu-Natal), Geovana Mendonça Lunardi Mendes (State University of Santa Catarina) and Prof Liesel Ebersöhn and Prof Irma Eloff from the University of Pretoria.

On partial sponsorship from the CSR, Prof. Joy Ekeke was able to join the symposium and mentioned that Singapore is a lovely country, being very neat and hospitable, with very courteous and respectful citizens. Prof. Joy further shared that the conference was well attended with conferees from different parts of the globe making for rich and robust discussions, interactions and networking. According to Dr Ekeke, a highlight for her at the conference was the symposium I participated in on how education research in the global South can inform and drive the discussion not only in the South but also in the Global North.

Dr Ekeke shares that It was a wonderful experience sharing and learning from colleagues from Brazil, India, Spain, South Africa, etc., and knowing the similarities as well as the differences in what drives research how research is carried out, and also how research influences and drives policy as 'Out-of-pocket expenses' is a major setback in large data research in Nigeria.