The persistent issue of educational inequalities remains a critical focus for researchers, policymakers, and educators throughout Europe and beyond. Understanding the need for collaboration, the STRIDE consortium is dedicated to enhancing knowledge on successful education reforms and amplifying the impact of initiatives aimed at reducing educational disparities.
An important part of this endeavour will involve close cooperation with other EU funded projects addressing inequalities in education. STRIDE plans to collaborate with initiatives like LEARN, MapIE, LineUp, and REVERSE-ED, which were selected under the same Horizon Europe call in 2023. Together, these projects share complementary objectives, ensuring that their combined efforts generate meaningful and sustainable change.
Building Synergies with Sister Projects
STRIDE’s commitment to synergy building is exemplified by its participation in a range of collaborative initiatives. In September 2024, STRIDE’s coordinator attended the inaugural event of the LINEup project at the Karlsruhe University of Education in Germany. LINEup – Longitudinal Data for Inequalities in Education – revealed their first project report which could serve as a critical reference point for the work of the sister projects. The report covered research evidence about the persistence and evolution of educational inequalities and available longitudinal data. Learn more about this event here and read the report here.
In January, Fondazione Scuola, the lead organisation of the LINEup project, hosted a pivotal meeting to strengthen and expand our collaboration. This gathering allowed participants to align their goals, exchange insights, and pinpoint areas of mutual interest. As a result, concrete plans for cooperation emerged, including a joint publication by the sister projects on variables and predicting inequalities in education. Additionally, all sister projects will hold biannual cooperation meetings. These and other collaborative actions will be solidified during the MapIE project consortium meeting in May 2025.
In Spring 2025, STRIDE will join a half-day cluster meeting and policy roundtable organised by the Research Executive Agency (REA). This event will bring together sister projects and European Commission policy officers to discuss strategies for addressing educational inequalities. By participating in such events, STRIDE underscores its dedication to supporting REA’s efforts in promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Expanding the Knowledge Base
STRIDE’s strategy of fostering collaboration extends beyond events and meetings. The consortium is committed to creating an accessible repository of information on sister projects. This will allow stakeholders to explore related initiatives and draw inspiration from their findings. For more details, visit the sister projects page on STRIDE’s website.
In tackling complex issues like educational inequalities, no single project or initiative can provide all the answers. STRIDE’s proactive approach to fostering synergies demonstrates the power of collaboration in driving change. Through these collaborations, STRIDE ensures that the knowledge, methodologies, and innovations developed by European projects are shared, built upon, and translated into actionable solutions. As the project continues to build partnerships and engage with stakeholders, it calls on the broader community—researchers, policymakers, educators, and the public—to join this collective effort. Together, we can create a more equitable educational landscape for all.