European Policy Network in the Field of Education of Children and Young People with a Migrant Background

The overall objective of this topic is to develop and support a Europe-wide network of relevant organisations (policy makers, practitioners, researchers, representatives of migrant communities, and other stakeholders) to analyse and co-create knowledge on effective policy approaches for high-quality inclusive education of children and young people with a migrant background, to promote co-operation between different stakeholders, to disseminate effective practices and innovative approaches more widely, and to support the Commission's policy work on inclusion of children and young people with a migrant background in and through education in the context of the European Education Area as outlined above.

This network will build on existing activities developed at European level, especially on initiatives and projects supported through European Union programmes and policy initiatives in the field of education.

The specific objectives comprise the following:

1. Create and continuously develop a broad, sustainable and inclusive network to facilitate dialogue and co-operation among policy makers, practitioners, researchers, representatives of migrant communities, and other stakeholders. The network should promote and support evidence-informed policy-making and continuous collaboration among partners in the network and with other relevant stakeholders at international, European, national, regional and local levels, including other networks and projects funded through EU programmes;
2. Analyse and co-create knowledge on effective policy approaches for high-quality inclusive education of children and young people with a migrant background (covering also the specific needs of refugee children and young people) with a view to supporting policy development and implementation at different governance levels as well as to informing the Commission's policy work on inclusion of children and young people with a migrant background in and through education;
3. Identify, share and promote effective practice and stimulate innovation and strategic development in policy, implementation and provision at different governance levels;
4. Disseminate results and recommendations within and beyond the network, and inform EU-level debate, including co-operation under the European Education Area. Target audiences should include policy-makers at different governance levels, as well as practitioners, researchers and stakeholders across Europe;
5. Monitor and evaluate activities of the network on the basis of concrete, measurable indicators for their impact; this work should be supported through external evaluation.

The scope and content of the work of the network is defined by the shared political priorities of EU Member States and the Commission as outlined in Section 1 above. It follows the relevant priorities set out in the September 2020 Communication on Achieving the European Education Area by 2025 and the February 2021 Council Resolution on the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training towards the European Education Area and beyond, as well the priorities under the EU Action plan on integration and inclusion (2021-2027).

In addition, the network should take into account the evolution of the European Education Area priorities and current political context, appropriate research and developments within other international organisations.

Themes and priorities

The focus will be on addressing in particular the following priority areas to ensure inclusive education of children and young people with a migrant background:

• Professional development of teachers and school leaders;
• Ensuring a comprehensive and multi-dimensional assessment of newly arriving refugee children and young people’s competences;
• Recognition of qualifications of newly arriving pupils and students;
• Supporting acquisition of the language of schooling while maintaining existing language(s) and culture;
• Mental health and well-being of refugee and immigrant pupils, social and emotional learning, tackling trauma in and through education;
• Prevention of discrimination, bullying, inter-cultural conflict management;
• Teaching about migration, conflict, war;
• Inclusive digitalisation;
• Holistic support to integration involving families and wider communities;
• Systemic data collection to inform policy with evidence

The following activities are eligible under this call of proposals:

• Creation and further development of the network; cooperation with partner institutions and organisations inside and outside the network;
• Activities aiming to develop, test, adapt and adopt/implement innovative policy and practice;
• Exchange of experiences and good practice, peer learning activities, peer reviews, study visits and workshops; organisation of conferences and seminars;
• Joint research, surveys, studies and analyses in the thematic area of the call, including country analysis or mapping of approaches and practices; analysis of recent or ongoing reforms;
• Awareness raising and dissemination of results;
• Continuous reporting including policy recommendations, evaluation and monitoring of network activities.

Expected impact

Through collecting evidence and information on and co-creating effective practices on the above-mentioned themes and priorities, and through effective dissemination, contribute to improving the integration and inclusion of children and young people with migrant background.