On 9 December 2025, the Lifelong Learning Platform brought together policymakers, researchers, civil society and practitioners for a pivotal LLLWeek session on “Equity and Inclusion in Education and Training Policies: Insights from 25 Years of Reforms in Europe” at La Maison de la francité in Brussels. This event highlighted the critical role of evidence-informed policy in tackling inequalities and strengthening inclusive learning systems across Europe — a core focus of the STRIDE project.
Bridging Research and Policy on Inclusion
Through in-depth comparative analyses of reforms over the last 25 years, STRIDE builds a robust knowledge base to support fairer, more effective education policy.
At the LLLWeek session, preliminary findings from STRIDE’s ongoing policy research served as a platform for reflection and dialogue. Presenters and panelists explored:
- How inclusive reforms have addressed systemic inequalities across education and training sectors.
- Which target groups — including learners from diverse socio-economic, linguistic, migrant and ability backgrounds — have been prioritised, and where gaps remain.
- What lessons can be drawn from the past quarter-century of policy action to strengthen the next generation of inclusive education initiatives.
Moderated by LLLP Vice President Chiara Piccolo, the discussion emphasised that understanding what has worked — and what hasn’t — is essential to guide future reforms that leave no learner behind.
The discussion started with a presentation of the preliminary results by project member Magdalena Ślusarczyk, followed by a panel discussion in which Magdalena was joined by Joana Maldonado, from the European Commission, Panagiotis Chatzimichail, from OBESSU and Veronica Mobilio from the sister project LINE-UP.
Another project member, Dimitris Parsanoglou, followed the panel with a presentation of the results of the project in early education, and was later joined by Joana Maldonado and Dora Šimunović, from ECSWE in a second panel discussion.
Policy Impact and Forward Momentum
STRIDE’s contribution to LLLWeek 2025 aligns with the event’s focus on inclusion as a central priority for lifelong learning, part of LLLWeek’s broader thematic commitment to Investment, Inclusion, Innovation, Internationalisation, and Intermediaries.
The project’s evidence-based insights — including a policy brief published earlier in 2025 — are designed to inform policy dialogue, educational leadership, and civil society advocacy. They offer actionable recommendations for building inclusive systems that respond to learners’ diverse needs.
STRIDE’s engagement at LLLWeek helped reinforce an important message: policy must not only promote access to education — it must also create conditions for all learners to succeed and thrive. By connecting research with practitioners and policymakers, STRIDE and LLLP are helping ensure that equity and inclusion remain at the heart of European education reform conversations.
