Conducting Research with Political Actors // January 23, 2026

LIRDEF is organizing a seminar titled “Conducting Research with Political Actors” on Friday, January 23, 2026, at the Faculty of Education (FDE), Room A109 (subject to change), in Montpellier. This event is part of the research focus area “Work, Training, and Professionalism.” It explores the conditions, opportunities, and limitations of collaborations between educational research and political action.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The goal is to understand how politics affects research, and how research affects politics. The event provides a forum for dialogue among researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and partner institutions.

The event will alternate between scientific presentations and roundtable discussions. Researchers from LIRDEF will present papers detailing their practical experiences working with various political actors. They will present research projects conducted in partnership, highlighting cooperative practices, the challenges encountered, and the lessons learned from these shared experiences.

The two roundtable discussions will bring together guests from various institutions (the Montpellier Academy, local governments, training organizations, sports and medical-social institutions, etc.) to discuss the conditions for co-developing projects, possible applications of research findings, and the tensions and adjustments that these collaborations may give rise to. These discussions will provide an opportunity to compare experiences and perspectives regarding research projects conducted in partnership with political actors.

For further information (program details, directions, and any venue updates), please contact LIRDEF at the following email address: lirdef-web@umontpellier.fr.