Eurydice

'Culture and education … are hugely important in the affirmation of differences between groups …and in the reproduction of those differences' – Pierre Bourdieu

Leaders and citizens realise that, without the European Union and its unity, we could not face the problems of terrorism, migrants, and refugees. – Federica Mogherini, Vice-President of the European Commission.

'...we have come to realise that for most men (sic) the right to learn is curtailed by the obligation to attend school' – Ivan Illich.

'Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted' – Albert Einstein

In recent decades there has been a strong move towards evidence-based policy making in the public sector. Few education policy-makers today would dare to introduce a reform that is not backed up by data and research evidence. But what is the nature of evidence being used, and can we rely on it to make better policy?

Photo credit: ©Izabela Urbaniak 2016 

'In the summer, the days were long, stretching into each other. Out of school, everything was on pause and yet happening at the same time, this collection of weeks when anything was possible.' - Sarah Dessen, Along for the Ride

'Don't limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time' –Rabindranath Tagore

There is an often repeated saying that we have schools from the XIX century, teachers from the XX century and pupils from the XXI century. However, schools are not entirely stuck in the past, and innovation is arriving in different ways and at different speeds. Architecture, teaching methods and new technologies are all having an impact on the skills we develop in our children, and key elements of School 2.0 for the XXI century are already with us.

Skills

'Without you, without the affectionate hand you extended to the small poor child that I was, without your teaching and example, none of all this would have happened.' - Albert Camus to his school teacher after receiving the Nobel Prize

'Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.' – Attributed to Albert Einstein

Are education systems focusing on developing the right skills at school and universities? Societies are ageing, workforces are shrinking, productivity is slowing, radicalism is growing, and young people are aspiring to jobs with maximum security. Is Europe losing its dynamism? Its innovative capacity? And if things continue on the same path, what will be the consequences for our way of living and position on the international stage?

I look forward to a United States of Europe, in which the barriers between the nations will be greatly minimised and unrestricted travel will be possible - Winston Churchill in 1942

“I'm learning skills I will use for the rest of my life by doing homework...procrastinating and negotiation.” ― Bill Watterson