DCU Success in Horizon Europe Funding Call

22/02/2022

EQI researchers Joe O'Hara and Martin Brown part of a successful Horizon Europe bid

EQI Directors Joe O’Hara and Martin Brown are part of an international research consortium that has been awarded over € 2.5 million in the most recent Horizon Europe funding round. The project, entitled SCIREARLY proposes to address poor learning outcomes in basic skills and early school leaving at national, regional and local level in Europe. Lead by the University of Duesto from Bilbao in Spain the research consortium is made up of HEIs, NGOs and government agencies from Spain, Portugal, UK, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland, Malta, Greece, Denmark.

Speaking about the award and its importance to educational research in Europe the project coordinator, Prof Rocío García Carrion from the University of Duesto said:

We have a huge responsibility, and I am confident that we will be able to work together to achieve the best results for science and society. (The project) will contribute to advance knowledge addressing the educational challenges many children and communities are facing and for improving their education and their lives.

As you all know this is a very high competitive research programme with very low rates of success, and being successful in Horizon Europe is a great achievement.

She also paid tribute to the work of CREA (Community of Research on Excellence for All) led by Professor Ramon Flecha of the University of Barcelona whose previous EU Framework Programme funded research contributed significantly to this area.

Prof Joe O’Hara of EQI also commented:

Both myself and Dr Martin Brown are absolutely delighted to be part of the successful SCIREARLY consortium and are looking forward to undertaking this vital research which should benefit school pupils across Europe. Given the extremely competitive nature of the Horizon Europe funding call I think it is significant that this project prioritises issues of equity, access and quality in educational provision.

We are looking forward to starting work on the project in the coming months and feel particularly fortunate to be able to draw not only on the collective knowledge and experience of our colleagues within EQI but also on the enormous research and practice expertise of DCU Institute of Education.