Babeș-Bolyai University is partner in a large-scale HORIZON project researching educational inequalities in Europe

Associate professor Oana Negru-Subtirica from the Department of Psychology starts leading the Babeș-Bolyai University team in the HORIZON project LEARN: Longitudinal Educational Achievements: Reducing iNequalities.

Europe is home to some of the most highly educated societies in the world. However, deep inequalities in education remain both within and between countries in Europe. Inequalities in learning outcomes, access to education and final educational attainment in Europe have been worsening. Thus, it is important to understand how socio-economic status, gender, ethnicity and migrant status are associated with inequalities over the life-course.

Using a case study approach in nine countries capturing the diversity of Europe’s education systems, LEARN will map and collect existing data. It will provide original analyses of a range of high-quality education-focused longitudinal data sets across Europe. LEARN will identify interventions that compensate educational inequalities by providing a synthesis of existing work across Europe, examining specific trends in educational inequalities and interventions intended to reduce them.

LEARN will then go on to develop tools for policymakers related to the findings of longitudinal analyses, supporting them in the process of developing better policies to reduce inequalities in education. Through improving the evidence base for education policy making, the positive impact of LEARN is likely to be felt for decades to come.

The LEARN project begins on April 1st, 2024, and lasts for three years. The EU has provided €2.3 Million for LEARN, whereas research partners in the UK and Switzerland will together provide the equivalent of a further €1 Million.