European Ideas for Better Learning
The European Commission Report, European Ideas for Better Learning: The Governance of School Education Systems was launched in Brussels on 17-18 May at the final conference of the ET2020 Working Group Schools (2016-18). This report encompasses four thematic reports on:
- Quality assurance for school development
- Continuity and transitions in learner development
- Teachers and schools leaders in schools as learning organisations
- Networks for learning and development across school education
https://ec.europa.eu/education/policy/strategic-framework/expert-groups/schools_en
A number of reports led by Dr. Paul Downes, Director of DCU’s Educational Disadvantage Centre, Associate Professor of Education (Psychology) were cited in this report, on the issues of multidisciplinary themes in and around schools, on inclusive systems, and on school bullying and violence.
The conference keynote was given by Professor Andy Hargreaves, Boston University. The invited attendees from Ireland were Suzanne Conneely, Assistant Chief Inspector, DES; Tomás Ó Ruairc, Director of the Teaching Council; John Halbert, Acting Deputy Chief Executive NCCA; Professor Gerry MacRuairc, NUI Galway and Paul Downes.
The Report is to inform the strategic thinking of senior officials across Education Ministries in Europe, including those who participated as members of the Commission’s School Policy Working Group on these themes. The full text of the report is here: www.dcu.ie/sites/default/files/institute_of_education/pdfs/wgs_6_full_final_output.pdf