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Enhancing Efficiency and Effectiveness in Education

Project description

Learning about education challenges to find solutions

Despite substantial investments, education quality in certain EU countries has stalled or worsened, disproportionately affecting marginalised populations. This jeopardises economic growth and social progress, underscoring the need for efficient and impactful educational policies. In this context, the EU-funded EFFEct project brings together education scientists, psychologists and economists to unravel the intricacies of educational effectiveness and efficiency. By employing (quasi-)experimental evidence, this multidisciplinary effort aims to dissect and improve various facets of education, from addressing inequalities to navigating the challenges brought forth by the digital age and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. With objectives spanning from targeted programmes for disadvantaged students to analysing post-COVID-19 system efficiency, EFFEct aims to provide evidence-backed policy recommendations.

Objective

High-quality education is a key driver of economic growth and social progress. Despite large investments in education over the past few decades, the quality of education in some EU countries has stagnated or even deteriorated. Marginalized populations are particularly vulnerable to the negative consequences arising from inadequate educational policies. Understanding the efficiency and (cost-)effectiveness of investment in quality education is crucial for allocating resources to where they could have the largest economic and social impacts. The EFFEct research project has been established as an impact-driven initiative that aims to provide evidence-based policy recommendations to improve the quality of education. By investigating the effectiveness and efficiency of education systems and specific policies in EU countries by using (quasi-)experimental evidence, EFFEct advances knowledge in several critical areas, including diversity, equity and inclusion; teachers, trainers and digital transition; instruction and (adult-)learning. EFFEct has four interrelated objectives. Objective 1 offers novel insights on diversity, equity and inclusion by investigating targeted programs for disadvantaged students as well as religious and elite schools. Objective 2 investigates how teacher shortages can be mitigated and examines the role of digital environments. Objective 3 evaluates policies related to instruction, admission standards, and upskilling and reskilling of adults. Finally, objective 4 analyzes how the efficiency of EU educational systems has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic and establishes the main policy levers and qualitative insights that may explain efficiency changes. EFFEct brings together a multidisciplinary research team of economists, sociologists, (neuro-)psychologists, teacher trainers, education scientists, mathematicians, and sustainability and operational research experts from four European research universities, a research institute and a NGO.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL2-2023-TRANSFORMATIONS-01

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Coordinator

KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
Net EU contribution
€ 1 187 021,25
Address
OUDE MARKT 13
3000 Leuven
Belgium
Region
Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 1 187 021,25

Participants (5)