Annalisa Sannino

Annalisa Sannino is a Professor whose research is deeply rooted in cultural-historical activity theory, transformative agency, and Change Laboratory interventions. Her work spans educational development, teacher education, and social innovation, with international collaborations across China, Vietnam, Finland, South Africa, and beyond. She actively contributes to advancing expansive learning and developmental work research through scholarly publications, workshops, and academic leadership.

• Expertise in Transformative and Teacher Agency
• Leader in Change Laboratory and Developmental Work Research
• Contributor to UN Sustainable Development Goals in Education and Social Justice
• International collaborator across five continents

Her research interests focus on how individuals and collectives can transform their practices through interventionist methodologies. She explores transformative agency in teacher education, curriculum reform contexts, and social challenges like homelessness and racial disparities. Her work combines theoretical rigor with practical application, often using double stimulation and expansive learning frameworks to foster change.

The recent articles reflect a strong trend toward applying Change Laboratory methods in diverse settings: from teacher education in China to housing policy in Finland, and sustainable agriculture. Keywords such as 'expansive learning', 'teacher agency', and 'developmental work research' recur across publications, indicating a cohesive and impactful research program. Subfields include curriculum reform, social justice, indigenous knowledge, and organizational development, showing both depth and breadth.

Scientific contributions include:

• Co-editing a Cambridge University Press volume on agency and transformation
• Developing diagnostic tools for teacher agency
• Leading international Change Laboratory projects
• Advancing theoretical foundations in cultural-historical psychology

Annalisa Sannino mentors emerging scholars and collaborates with PhD candidates across institutions, though specific advisees are not listed. She has secured research grants through international collaborations and institutional funding, enabling projects in Vietnam, China, and South Africa. Her work often involves participatory action research and interdisciplinary teams.

She is actively involved in research networks and labs focused on:

• Environmental Learning Research Centre (Rhodes University)
• Change Laboratory interventions in education and social policy
• Indigenous knowledge systems and intercultural dialogue
• Developmental work research in organizational contexts