From interactive digital tools to new evidence on early childhood education and Roma school dropout, the STRIDE consortium meeting in Budapest highlighted how the project is moving from academic research to tangible impact.
Partners in the STRIDE project gathered in Budapest from 10–12 June 2026 for the consortium’s 4th in-person meeting, hosted by the TÁRKI Social Research Institute. Over three days, researchers and project partners shared progress across the project and focused on a common goal: turning strong evidence on educational inequality into practical tools for decision-makers and education and training stakeholders that can make a difference across Europe.
A major highlight of the meeting was the progress of the STRIDE interactive map developed by National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), one of the project’s key outputs. The map is designed to help users explore the main drivers of educational inequality across countries and groups, using more than 130 indicators. During the Budapest meeting, partners tested the latest version of the platform and reviewed a range of new features, including clearer indicator descriptions, better filters, downloadable outputs, and a more user-friendly design. With final testing now under way, the map is approaching its public launch.
The meeting was not only about presenting research findings, it was also about making them easier to use. Partners shared important developments on efforts to create a digital toolbox for policymakers and stakeholders. The goal is to support users who need clear, practical evidence alongside more comprehensive academic reports. The toolbox is being shaped through workshops, expert interviews, and co-creation with education stakeholders, helping the team better understand how policymakers actually work and what tools they need.
The prototype presented in Budapest by VIA University College and developed in collaboration with Jagiellonian University (JU), Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP) and Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), already includes early versions of national case studies, links to the interactive map, and a chatbot that draws on the research and materials developed within STRIDE. Together, these features are intended to help users move more easily between data, research findings and policy ideas. One clear message from the discussion was that evidence becomes more useful when it is organised around real policy questions and presented in a format that supports decision-making.
Another central theme of the meeting was STRIDE’s research on early childhood education and care (ECEC). New comparative findings showed that early childhood policies can play an important role in reducing educational inequalities, but only when implementation is strong, and support reaches the children and families who need it most. Across the five national case studies, partners found broad agreement that these reforms can improve children’s development, well-being and future opportunities, especially when early education is linked to wider services such as health, family support and local outreach.
At the same time, the research also highlighted shared challenges. These include teacher shortages, limited access to kindergarten places, difficulties in using and sharing data, weak coordination between national and local authorities, and a lack of systematic evaluation. One of the clearest conclusions from the discussions during the consortium meeting was that expanding access alone is not enough. Universal policies matter, but they need to be matched with targeted support, effective implementation, and long-term political and financial commitment to reduce inequality in practice. These findings will be discussed in an upcoming working paper analysing the long-term effects of early childhood education policies in five countries, along with a related policy brief.
The meeting also provided space for new findings from research on early school leaving among Roma youth in Hungary. This research brings together survey evidence and interviews to explore why many young Roma leave school early and what helps them stay in education or return later. The findings show that dropout is rarely caused by a single factor. Instead, it is shaped by a combination of poverty, unstable housing, school segregation, discrimination, family hardship, weak transport links, and a lack of meaningful support in school. Importantly, the research highlights several factors that can help young people stay connected to education. These include mentoring, second-chance education programs, financial support, and assistance from NGOs and alternative learning environments. By combining statistical analysis with personal experiences, the study provides a comprehensive understanding of how disadvantage accumulates over time and identifies the types of policies needed to address it.
Taken together, the discussions held last week showed how STRIDE is entering a new phase. The project is no longer only analysing inequalities; it is now building practical resources to help others address them. With the interactive map nearing launch, the policy toolbox taking shape, and new findings emerging on both early childhood education and Roma school dropout, the project is developing tools to support better decisions and fairer educational opportunities across Europe.
Over the coming months, STRIDE partners will continue testing and refining these outputs in collaboration with stakeholders. As the meeting in Budapest made clear, the project’s strength lies not just in producing knowledge, but in making that knowledge usable.
