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The Symposium’s sessions reflected both enduring and emerging areas of inquiry in languages and literacies education. The opening and closing plenaries by Professor Sarah Mercer from the University of Graz - Austria and Professor Geoff Lawrence from York University respectively set the tone with a focus on interdisciplinarity in language education and on putting the human dimensions - affect, agency and community - at the core of language teaching and learning. Across the two days, participants explored plurilingualism, multiliteracies, AI and generative technologies in education, online and distance learning, migration and mobility, language policy and inclusion, decolonial literacies, teacher and learner agency, and digital environments for communication and learning.

Many presenters drew on classroom experiences, community-based projects, and interdisciplinary research to illuminate connections between theory and practice. These sessions created opportunities for educators and researchers to engage deeply with current challenges in the field, while also imagining future directions for teaching and scholarship.

The collaboration of both the Centre for Educational Research on Languages and Literacies (CERLL) at OISE, University of Toronto, and the Centre for Research in Education (CRE) at Niagara College ensured that the event was able to maintain a strong balance between academic research, pedagogical innovation, and practical applications.

Perhaps one of the most transformative aspects of the 2025 Symposium was the way it opened pathways across long-standing institutional and disciplinary boundaries. Faculty, students, administrators, and researchers from Ontario’s universities and colleges collaborated closely with international colleagues, engaging in conversations that extended beyond academic conventions.

Symposium participants expressed how rare, and refreshing, it was to see college instructors, university researchers and professors, graduate students, and community educators learning together in the same spaces. This cross-pollination of ideas fostered:

• new and unexpected research collaborations
• expanded professional networks
• shared pedagogical insights
• foundations for future joint initiatives

The Symposium functioned not just as an event, but as a living example of what academic solidarity can look like in practice.

The success of this large-scale, collaborative event reflects the remarkable efforts of several institutions and partners. The leadership and coordination of CERLL, OISE, and the CRE at Niagara College made the hybrid gathering possible. We would also like to also acknowledge the invaluable contributions of colleagues, partners, and volunteers from the University of Toronto Mississauga, Western University, York University, and the University of Waterloo, who actively contributed to the peer review process, the organization of the event, and the program itself. Their dedication ensured a seamless experience for presenters and participants alike, both in person and online.

In collaboration with university and college stakeholders, participants and community members, the 2025 Symposium demonstrated the profound impact that collaborative scholarly spaces can have on the academic community. These spaces show their strength when institutions, disciplines, and individuals choose to work in connection and collaboration rather than in isolation. The Symposium brought this vision to life by creating an environment where shared inquiry, collective problem-solving, and open dialogue could flourish.

In bringing together a global community committed to care, accessibility, and academic exchange, the Sixth Symposium of the Southern Ontario Universities stands as an important milestone in advancing research partnerships and strengthening the future of languages and literacies education locally, nationally, and globally.