Closing the learning gap: uncovering causes and effective policy interventions for declining youth skills in mathematics, reading, and science

¿De qué trata esta convocatoria?

The topic funds research into why young people in Europe show declining skills in mathematics, reading and science, and which teaching practices and policies can reverse the trend.

¿Qué financia esta convocatoria?

Scope

Young people's skills in mathematics, reading and science, as measured by international assessments such as PISA, have declined significantly in Europe over the past 15 years, at both low and top levels of achievement. The structural causes remain poorly understood. Research should use national and international data to address questions such as:

• How changes in teaching methods, curricula and assessment have influenced the decline.
• The role of digital distractions, the shift from paper to digital reading, and handwriting and drawing.
• Links between cognitive skills and socio-emotional skills, self-regulation and school climate.
• Effects of student heterogeneity, parental involvement, socio-economic background and gender, cultural institutions, public investment, and teacher shortages and working conditions.

Methods

Proposals should apply experimental and/or quasi-experimental methods, possibly complemented by qualitative research, and evaluate the costs of the measures analysed. The views of young people and other stakeholders should be part of data collection.

Expected outcomes

• A solid understanding of the structural causes of the decline.
• Rigorous evidence on which teaching practices, programmes and policy actions can reverse it.
• Actionable advice for policy and future evaluations in the field of basic skills.

¿Qué se espera de las propuestas?

• Interdisciplinary approaches and clustering with other selected projects are encouraged.

¿Cuándo termina el plazo?

23 de septiembre de 2027 (321 días)

23 September 2027 (single-stage submission).