Report with Sites Selection

Zelinka, Jozef; Parreira do Amaral, Marcelo; Neves, Tiago; Ferraz, Hélder; Benasso, Sebastiano; Filippi, Davide; Pandolfini, Valeria

Abstract

The European funded research project Constructing Learning Outcomes in Europe. A MultiLevel Analysis of (Under-)Achievement in the Life Course (CLEAR) is focusing the factors that affect the quality of learning outcomes across European regions. CLEAR perceives learning outcomes as a result of manifold intersecting factors and people and seeks to study them in a mixed-method, multi-level research study based on empirical and comparative analyses, as well as innovative participatory strategies. The study is conducted in eight EU-member countries and their regional and local contexts. We have selected the regions and local research sites after carefully considering the available quantitative data on economic, educational, and socio-structural conditions and collecting contextual information to validate the selection. The Report with Sites Selection (Report) presents the selection of research sites, their analysis and validation according to the project’s core objectives and research questions. In the Report, we have: − provided National Reports for every country, characterising educational and sociostructural conditions on country, NUTS 2 and NUTS 3 levels (see Annex 1); − selected 16 NUTS 2 regions and 16 NUTS 3 research sites, two of each for every participating country (see Table 1 and Figure 1); − analysed and compared the coverage (population, area, density), structural conditions and performance of NUTS 2 regions; − analysed and compared NUTS 3 research sites, with a particular focus on their local specifications, social, demographic and educational challenges, as well as groups in vulnerable positions; − related the conceptual design of the study to the selection of the research sites and considered the overlapping and mismatches between them. Based on the results of the analyses, we came to the following conclusions: − First, the selected NUTS 2 regions uncovered wide within-country and crosscountry differences in terms of educational, economic and socio-structural performance. − Second, the selected NUTS 3 research sites provide us appropriate conditions to study the life and learning environments of young people with diverse backgrounds and disadvantages. − Third, the analyses of the selected sites have pointed out to the scarcity of local quantitative data and missing and/or limited information on the impact of spaces and social backgrounds on the quality of learning outcomes. − Fourth, the selected sites enhance our chances to reach groups in vulnerable positions, such as young people with migrant background, refugees, ethnic minorities, disadvantaged genders, youth in remote regions etc.