I would like to thank all those who contribute to the First International Congress of Educational Research, organised and hosted by Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University and Educational Research Association(EAB), in cooperation with Ministry of National Education and collaborating with the European Educational Research Association (EERA), the International Association of Educators (INASED), and the International Association of Qualitative Inquiry (IAQI). It is a great honour and pleasure for us to welcome you all to Çanakkale. We have participants from approximately 25 countries.

Here I would like to tell you some words about EAB;

EAB (Educational Research Association) was founded on 4th June 2008 as a national organization of educational researchers committed to the improvement of theory and practice in education through research. EAB aims to advance knowledge about educational research, to encourage scholarly inquiry related to education, and to cooperate with other educational and scientific organizations to influence educational policy. Furthermore, the association strives to determine the quality standards of educational research. Educational Research Association (EAB) intends to index the journals on educational research published in Turkey and found excellence centres with the technical equipment, data bases, web sites and indexing programs which are essential to perform the duties of the association.
Soon after the completion of the procedures for founding the association, we intended to be a member of EERA (European Education Research Association), and applied for the membership. EAB was accepted as a member in 2008 and took its place among 22 European members as an NGO representing Turkey. We are very honoured and pleased to be included in EERA. We will of course do our best to contribute to the success of this network. Here I must express my gratitude to Prof. Gogolin, the President of EERA, for her cooperation.