Eurydice

News about the refugee crisis has painted a doom picture of Europe. Yet, while news on this topic tend to be negative, there are positive initiatives taking place.

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

In recent decades there has been a strong move towards evidence-based policy making. But what is the nature of evidence used, and can we rely on it?

Let's imagine that you wanted to organise a summer music festival for teenagers from all over Europe. What would be the best time to maximise attendance?

There is a saying that we have schools from the XIX century, teachers from the XX century and pupils from the XXI century. However, innovation is arriving.

Do governments and public authorities know how to bring out the best in teachers?

Are education systems focusing on developing the right skills at school and universities?

While the popularity of the EU may fluctuate, the popularity of Erasmus is enduring, with close to 4.5 million students who have now studied or worked abroad.

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

Evidence are being replaced by beliefs held despite ample proof that contradicts them. This change leads to the question: Can you run an education system on beliefs alone?