What’s Rural about Rural Education Research?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47381/aijre.v36i1.889

Keywords:

rurality, rural education, research, rural values, rural realities, rural knowledges

Abstract

This issue offers readers a broad range of articles that discuss various aspects of rural education in different learning settings in Australia, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand and Japan. One of the common threads we bring out in this editorial is about the ‘rurality’ of rural education research. Drawing on the articles we provide an answer to the question: ‘what’s rural about rural education research?’ We conclude that rurality in rural education research reflects teaching and learning. It is contextual, based on the place, where knowledge is generated from the rural. Importantly too, it draws from the realities that make rural education unique. Rural education research reflects the values of the place and uses methodologies which give voice to the people of rural communities. It is relational rather than transactional. It is not the opposite of research in urban areas, and it should not be seen as a reaction to metrocentric views of the rural as being in some kind of deficit. As you read through this set of articles, we encourage you to take time to consider how rurality intersects with education and research.

Author Biography

John Guenther, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education

John is the Research Leader Education and Training, with Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, based in Darwin, Northern Territory. Over the last 20 years John has conducted research and evaluation projects which have focused on remote contexts, covering all states and territories of Australia. While his work has focused mainly on learning, the intersections between training and education with health, wellbeing, traditional knowledge systems, economic, natural resource management, mining and a range of social issues, feature in his work.
John's research expertise extends from an array of practical qualitative and quantitative methodologies for research and evaluation, through to a range of theoretical and philosophical perspectives. He is interested in the translation of empirical evidence to policy and practice settings. He has a growing publishing track record and regularly contributes to conferences and researcher forums to share his knowledge. 
John supervises and mentors several higher degree research students across Australia and supports networks and collaborations in several universities across Australia.

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Published

06-03-2026

How to Cite

Guenther, J., Fuqua, M., & Hudson, C. (2026). What’s Rural about Rural Education Research?. Australian and International Journal of Rural Education, 36(1), i-x. https://doi.org/10.47381/aijre.v36i1.889

Issue

Vol. 36 No. 1 (2026): What's Rural About Rural Education Research

Section

EDITORIAL

License

Copyright (c) 2026 John Guenther; Melyssa Fuqua, Christopher Hudson

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