Dr. Halla B. Holmarsdottir, a key member of the STRIDE team, recently presided over the 69th annual Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) conference in Chicago from March 22-26, 2025, as conference convenor and president-elect. The theme, “Envisioning Education in a Digital Society” provided a critical platform to showcase the groundbreaking work of the STRIDE project.
STRIDE: A Comprehensive Approach to Educational Equity
Running from 2024 to 2027, the STRIDE project is at the forefront of educational equity research in Europe. At the conference, we highlighted how STRIDE uses sophisticated analyses of education reforms across national and regional systems, leveraging large-scale educational assessment and longitudinal data to establish causal links between educational policies and inequality outcomes.
What sets STRIDE apart is its intersectional approach. Our research examines how socio- economic background, gender, disabilities, migration status, home language, and early childhood education access interact to affect learning outcomes across European contexts. The CIES conference provided an invaluable opportunity to discuss how these factors also influence digital access and competency development.
Sharing STRIDE’s Three-Stage Methodology
Conference attendees showed particular interest in STRIDE’s structured methodology:
- Stage 1: We are currently mapping long-term trends in educational achievement inequalities across Europe, culminating in an interactive map that visualizes disparities and correlates them with policy interventions. This tool generated significant discussion about similar approaches globally.
- Stage 2: Dr. Holmarsdottir shared our framework for identifying effective policy initiatives that mitigate inequalities in learning outcomes. Attendees noted parallels between our methodology and needs from pandemic-era digital learning transitions.
- Stage 3: We are developing practical tools for policymakers, including a comprehensive toolbox and multilingual policy briefs created in collaboration with national stakeholders. Participants were particularly interested in how these tools will bridge research and policy implementation, especially amid ongoing digital transformation.
Read more about our methodology on the following page: https://stride-research.eu/research-policy/methodology/
STRIDE and Digital Transformation: Synergies Revealed at CIES 2025
The conference theme provided a perfect context to discuss how STRIDE’s findings can inform more equitable approaches to education technology. Panel discussions emphasised that the digital divide risks amplifying the very inequalities STRIDE aims to address, making our research urgent. Our analyses show that digital access alone does not guarantee educational equity; how technology is implemented and supported is crucial. Case studies demonstrated that without careful consideration of intersectional factors, digital education initiatives can reinforce existing disadvantages.
Building Global Partnerships Through CIES
The international nature of CIES created opportunities to explore how STRIDE’s European focus might inform similar initiatives globally. Dr. Holmarsdottir engaged with researchers and policymakers interested in adapting STRIDE’s methodology to their regional needs. The conference reinforced the value of STRIDE’s stakeholder engagement approach, creating a collaborative ecosystem for policy learning—a model seen as transferable to various contexts.
As we move forward with STRIDE and integrate insights from CIES 2025, our commitment remains firm: to develop evidence-based approaches ensuring technological advancement and educational equity progress together, creating inclusive learning environments for all European students. The enthusiastic response from the international education community at CIES confirms we are on the right track, with potential impact extending beyond Europe’s borders.
