The Approaches
1. Strategy development
The EIESP aims to provide an interface between conceptual analysis, implementation and reflection as a specific contribution to education and training strategy development at all levels. The results and outcomes of innovative initiatives and action-research projects to which the EIESP contributes as evaluator, partner or coordinator provide the material for reflection which is fed into the broader policy analyses and comparisons in the two journals (European Journal of Education and Politiques d'Education et de Formation) and on the website (e-education-europe). This is part of the action-reflection perspective, allowing the EIESP to build on and renew its capacity for moving agendas forward through action-research.
The EIESP's contributions to strategy development include the following examples. A first illustration is the work of the EIESP on transparency of qualifications. The approach has evolved over 10 years from comparisons of systems of certification to developing conceptual frameworks and tools for transparency. The EIESP undertook feasibility studies in the EU member states which established the basis for the European Reference Points for vocational qualifications. It is currently to contributing to reflection on strategies for developing National Qualifications Frameworks in transition countries.
A second illustration concerns the role of regions in Europe in education, training, employment, economic and social cohesion. Regions are increasingly recognised as the best level for effective development and implementation of policies and mechanisms to increase social cohesion. Hence the need for regional structures to develop their capacity to design and implement strategic approaches to lifelong learning, embedded in social and employment action plans. The EIESP seeks to support regional strategies emphasising transnational cooperation as a lever for policy formulation, sharing and dissemination of innovative ideas and practice, identifying key levers of policy change for lifelong learning in regions. The focus is on "what works" and "how to make it work".
A third illustration is the Bologna Process on which the both the journals have recently published thematic issues. A dossier has been developed for the website (www.e-education-europe.org) and the EIESP is contributing to a comparative analysis on the implementation of the Bologna Process in seven EU Member States.
2. Evaluation
A key strength of the EIESP is the capacity and experience in evaluation of European education and training systems, programmes, innovative projects and reforms.
It is essential for all innovative and development activities and systems to be able to reflect on results, outcomes and impacts, evaluate progress made and the process implemented with a view drawing conclusions for future strategies, adjusting and/or re-defining objectives, activities or specific targets where and when necessary. It is part of a policy cycle of formulation, determination, implementation and evaluation and thus an essential ingredient of reform, transition and innovation.
The EIESP is committed to providing high quality contributions to those processes through the design, development and analysis of monitoring and evaluation frameworks for systems, programmes and projects. Evaluations are carried out for many education and training programmes, working with sectoral, regional, national and European partnerships. The approach is essentially formative, focusing on:
3. Dissemination
Continuing to build and strengthen the EIESP's dissemination capacity is part of the action and reflection equation bridging research, policy formulation and action-research. The EIESP edits two academic journals the European Journal of Education and Politiques d'éducation et de formation (co-edited with the Institut-EPICE) which are refereed, take a thematic focus and cover a broad range of education and training issues. Each journal has an international editorial board and they are disseminated to audiences in countries across the world. The European Journal of Education, published by Blackwells, has been disseminating research and policy analysis in education and training for 40 years. Politiques d'éducation et de formation was created four years ago to respond to the need for a European and international perspective on education policy research and development in French.
The recently created website, www.e-education-europe.org has the capacity to address wider audiences on-line and is bi-lingual. It is an important element in the dissemination strategy of the EIESP and is designed to make a contribution to the debate on the European Knowledge Society through fostering more active networking of journals in Europe. E-education-europe is developed with the University of Kassel and the Institut-EPICE with support from the Directorate General for Research. It will provide a focal point for bringing together the academic reflection characterised by the journals and by carrying forward into more conceptual frameworks the results of action-research as well as providing informed comment on EU policies and their consequences. It will provide a platform for exchange, a capacity to respond to issues raised and open access which is critical for transition economies and regions.
Building strategic partnerships for the future: The Institute considers that there can be considerable mutual benefits in establishing a structured strategic partnership with organisations with complementary strengths in education and the regional dimension, and proven track records, committed by their mission to promotion of the European dimension of education and training. Such an initiative would help create a much stronger, independent presence on the European stage capable of monitoring and contributing to future policy initiatives in the field and which could achieve greater impact in the coming period.
