On 11–12 June 2026, the PARTICIPATE project held its Final Conference at the Thon Hotel in Brussels, Belgium. The event brought together project partners, researchers, PhD candidates, policymakers, and European Parliament representatives to reflect on three years of collaborative work and to discuss the future of research and practice in addressing online and offline bullying.
After months of planning and preparation by the PhD candidates and the project team, the conference offered a valuable opportunity to showcase the project’s achievements and to engage in meaningful dialogue with the audience.
The first day focused on Practice, Toolkits, and Policy Dialogue. After an insightful keynote by Prof. Debbie Ging, participants were introduced to several key project outputs, including From Bystanders to Leaders: Parents in (Cyber)Bullying Advocacy, Enhancing School–Parent Collaboration against (Cyber)Bullying, and the Digital Literacy Toolkit for Parents. It was inspiring to see how far the project had progressed and how these practical resources can support parents, young people, and school staff in addressing bullying and promoting safer digital environments. Contributing to the development of tools that can make a real difference in the lives of children, adolescents, and their families has been one of the most rewarding aspects of the project.
The second day focused on Research Findings and Community Responses, and Algorithms, Fieldwork, and Lessons Learned. The day began with a thought-provoking keynote by Prof. Audrey Bryan, who examined the growing responsibilization of parents and school staff to address online harms while underscoring the responsibilities of technology companies to regulate algorithms and safeguard children and adolescents online. The discussion that followed was enriched by contributions from project supervisors, PhD researchers, and external attendees, offering a wide range of perspectives on these important issues.
Throughout the day, four panel sessions highlighted the key findings of the PhD projects. The discussions were engaging, insightful, and highly relevant to the future of bullying and cyberbullying research. I (Ebru Ozbek) participated in three of these panels: Understanding Online Bullying Involvement and Its Consequences on Young People, Whole-Community Approaches: The Role of Parents and Schools, and Methodologies and Lessons from the Field, and felt proud to contribute to the conversations. Beyond the knowledge and research experience gained during my PhD, engaging in respectful, inclusive discussions with colleagues about diverse theoretical and methodological perspectives was especially meaningful. The encouragement and feedback from our supervisors reinforced our confidence in our work and strengthened our motivation to continue contributing to this field.
Organizing a final conference during the final stages of our PhDs was undoubtedly challenging. However, the conference also served as a powerful reminder of how much we have grown intellectually and professionally over the past three years. Reuniting with colleagues, as well as with academic and non-academic supervisors, made these two days especially memorable.
As the PARTICIPATE project draws to a close, the conference offered an opportunity not only to celebrate our achievements but also to reflect on the relationships, learning, and collaborations that have shaped our journey. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event possible.
Building on these reflections, I (Shan Hu) would also like to share some of the moments from the conference that were particularly meaningful to me. During the two days, I attended the policy session on the first day and participated in two panel discussions on the second day: Understanding Online Bullying Involvement and Its Consequences on Young People and Methodologies and Lessons from the Field. These sessions provided valuable opportunities to connect the findings of our individual PhD projects with broader discussions on policy, practice, and future research.
One of the presentations I found particularly inspiring was Dr Frederikke Skanning Knage’s presentation, Bullying, Marginalisation and Conflict Between Children. Her presentation offered a nuanced perspective on how bullying can sometimes remain hidden, not only because adults fail to notice it, but also because it can become embedded in everyday practices that make exclusion appear ‘legitimate, harmless, or even necessary’. This was especially thought-provoking, as it challenged us to look beyond visible incidents of conflict and to pay closer attention to the social dynamics, norms, and hierarchies within children’s peer communities.
The presentation also made me reflect on the role of adult education and support. During the discussion, I asked about parent education, particularly how to engage parents who may not recognize that their parenting practices could contribute to or fail to address bullying-related problems. The response, drawing on practical experience, emphasized that such situations often need to be approached case by case. This was a useful reminder that although toolkits and general guidance are important, meaningful change often depends on careful dialogue, trust-building, and sensitivity to the specific circumstances of each family and school context.
As the final conference of the PARTICIPATE project, these two days were especially meaningful. They offered a chance not only to share and discuss research findings, but also to reflect on everything we have learned through the project. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been part of PARTICIPATE, for the support and guidance from our supervisors and partners, and for the collaboration, encouragement, and friendship of my fellow PhD researchers. The conference was a fitting conclusion to the project and a reminder of the importance of continuing to connect research, policy, and practice in the field of bullying and cyberbullying prevention.
Ebru Ozbek and Shan Hu
