Family, School and Community in the Pluriverse of Current Education

LaCiE talk with Prof. Lavinia Nădrag, Ovidius University of Constanta, Romania.

Prof. Lavinia Nădrag, Ovidius University of Constanta, Romania, is currently a visiting scholar at our department. She will present insights from her recent book publication Family, school and community in the pluriverse of current education (2025), co-edited with Fazel Ebrihiam Freeks, Tudor-Cosmin Ciocan, and Alina Gălbează (Buzarna-Tihenea).

Abstract

In a world marked by increasing interconnectedness and complex cultural dynamics, the spheres of family, school, and community no longer function in isolation. Instead, they form overlapping dimensions that reflect and influence educational theory and practice.

The talk will introduce my recent book publication. It offers a collection of perspectives that challenge monolithic understandings of education and open space for a truly pluriversal dialogue. The idea of the “pluriverse”, a term that signals the coexistence of multiple, equally valid ways of knowing and being, is a call to educators, researchers, and practitioners to engage with diversity not as an obstacle, but as a resource. The contributions within the volume explore how educational practices are shaped by cultural context, community engagement, technological innovation, and evolving understandings of pedagogy and identity. The volume is structured around two central themes: Teaching and Learning in a Multilingual and Multicultural World, and Social Issues Concerning Education. From personality traits that influence teaching style, to the role of digital parenting, faith-based perspectives on inclusion, or critiques of institutional schooling, the diversity of topics underscores a shared commitment to rethinking education for the 21st century.

Education in the pluriverse is not about conformity; it is about embracing difference, navigating complexity, and working together toward equity, inclusion, and human flourishing.

Bio

Lavinia Nădrag, PhD, is full professor at Ovidius University of Constanta, Faculty of Letters, Department of Modern Languages and Communication Sciences. She got her BA at Ovidius University of Constantza and her Ph.D. at the University of Bucharest, Romania. Her fields of research and expertise are linguistics, applied linguistics (Communication, Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Teaching English for Specific Purposes), psycholinguistics, multicultural education, multilingualism and multiculturalism. She has written numerous books and articles on topics related to the above-mentioned domains of language study. She is a member of ISAPL (The International Society for Applied Psycholinguistics), RAAS (The Romanian Association for American Studies and RSEAS (The Romanian Society for English and American Studies). She has been involved in EU co-funded projects dealing with teaching and learning English as a foreign language, quality in Romanian higher education system, community development and sustainability.