This presentation outlines how time and temporalities are inherently intertwined with understandings and interpretations of transitions. In doing so, differentiations are made between time (i.e., measurable clock time) and temporalities (i.e. one’s social experiences with time) to provide some conceptual nuance in how time is approached in research designs. The connection between time and transitions is made through two framings: 

1. time as transitions, and 
2. transitions as time

Time as transitions, on the one hand, reflects how transitions between different contexts often lead to new understandings of time and temporalities. 

Transitions as time, on the other hand, recognises that transitions must be understood through the lens of time. Throughout the presentation, the situations of international students are used as an illustrative example, given the time-limited nature of their study experiences and geographic mobility across time zones. Altogether, the presentation highlights time as a significant dimension of transitions research, ending with practical considerations for embedding a temporal disposition into research designs.

Dr Jenna Mittelmeier is Senior Lecturer in International Education at the University of Manchester. Her research expertise focuses broadly on the internationalisation of higher education and more specifically on the experiences and treatment of international students. She is the lead co-editor of the recently published book Research with International Students: Critical Conceptual and Methodological Considerations and is a founding co-leader of both the Research with International Students network and the Internationalisation Practitioners Network.

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Neil Hume, is a doctoral student in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Edinburgh whose PhD takes a holistic approach to understanding primary to secondary school transitions for young people in two Scottish learning communities. He has been working with Kirsty De’Placido, Positive Transitions Service Manager, and Rebecca Williams, Policy and Research Officer, both from the social innovation charity People Know How, on the idea of a ‘transition charter’.

They believe this charter could set-out clear and consistent standards around what young people, their parents/carers and others should see in place for ensuring a positive transition from primary to secondary school. They hope that this ‘charter’ might be something schools and local authorities nationwide can sign up to, to evidence their commitment to excellence in transition practice.    

They will discuss how the idea for this charter came about, how it has developed, and warmly welcome feedback from participants about its potential (and any challenges).

Please join us for an interesting conversation about this exciting idea being taken forward by a collaborative team passionate about seeing positive transitions for all young people.

Dr Charlotte Bagnall, a lecturer at the University of Manchester will chair the session. Her research is focused on supporting children’s emotional wellbeing within schools, particularly over primary-secondary school transitions. As part of her programme of research she is currently the Principal Investigator of the Primary-Secondary School Transitions Emotional Wellbeing Scale design and validation project.