In today’s plural, socio-culturally diverse, and multilingual societies, one of the key roles of schools is to foster social cohesion rooted in equality and a healthy, enriching, and free coexistence. For some individuals, schools are often the only institution that can mitigate the inequality or violence they face. While some may argue that schools are incapable of fulfilling this role—akin to claiming that the earth is flat—numerous studies published in leading scientific journals show that schools can indeed play a decisive role in overcoming inequalities and promoting violence-free relationships, even within highly diverse environments.
The Enhanc-ed R&D project, part of the National Research Plan, will contribute to this effort. Its primary goal is to identify educational programs and initiatives proven to improve students’ performance in learning school languages. Mastery of these languages opens doors, facilitating academic, social, and professional success.
Enhanc-ed also aims to identify practices that foster positive social interactions within schools. This goal is closely tied to the primary objective: cutting-edge research has shown that instrumental learning and high-quality relationships are closely interconnected.
We are not starting from scratch, but rather building on the shoulders of giants. The INCLUD-ED and REVERS-ED projects, both led by Ramón Flecha, Professor Emeritus at the University of Barcelona, provide significant foundations for this work. Furthermore, we have the benefit of a recent report, commissioned by the European Commission and authored by Ramón Flecha, Lidia Puigvert, and Sandra Racionero, which identifies programs and practices that have a positive impact on the well-being of children and adolescents. Leveraging this high-level scientific knowledge, the Enhanc-ed project aims to achieve results that will genuinely help improve people’s lives.
The project is now underway. A dedicated team of 19 researchers from various universities is enthusiastically collaborating with teachers, students, families, and the broader community to identify interventions that yield the best results for all students. We look forward to sharing these findings.
Image: Enhanc-ed Kick-Off Meeting
Associate Professor at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)